Lucidario di Recami, page 14 (recto)

Art Historical Context

Step into the intricate world of Renaissance design with *Lucidario di Recami page 14 (recto)*, a delicate woodcut from 1564 by Iseppo Foresto and Jeron Calepino. This page, measuring just 7 7/8 x 5 7/8 inches, hails from a rare Italian pattern book housed in the Metropolitan Museum of's Drawings and Prints department, acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1. Woodcuts like this were revolutionary for their time, allowing affordable reproduction of elaborate motifs through relief printing on wooden blocks—a technique that captured fine details with remarkable clarity. The page showcases twisting vines, a hallmark of ornamental design tagged in this work, evoking the natural exuberance of Renaissance gardens reimagined for craft. Pattern books such as *Lucidario di Recami*—likely focused on embroidery and decorative arts—democratized sophisticated motifs, enabling artisans across Europe to replicate them in textiles, lace, and architecture. Foresto and Calepino's collaboration reflects the era's collaborative spirit among designers, bridging fine art and applied crafts. This artifact whispers of 16th-century Italy's cultural flourishing, where nature-inspired ornament symbolized harmony and ingenuity. Visitors, imagine threading your needle to these timeless vines— a testament to design's enduring allure!

About the Artist

Iseppo Foresto|Jeronimo Calepino (Italian|Italian) · 1520 |1500 –1580 |1600

Italian, active Venice, 1557|