Studio delle virtuose Dame, page 22 (recto)

Art Historical Context

**Studio delle virtuose Dame page 22 (recto)** (1597) is a delicate woodcut from a rare pattern book by Isabella Catanea Parasole, with contributions from Antonio Fachetti Created in late Renaissance Italy, this small page—measuring just 5½ x 8 inches—exemplifies the era's fascination with ornamental designs for domestic crafts. Parasole, one of the few women active in printmaking at the time, catered to "virtuose dame" (virtuous ladies), offering intricate motifs like blooming flowers and acorns for embroidery, lace, and needlework. Woodcuts like this were ideal for reproducing fine patterns affordably, allowing widespread access to elegant, nature-inspired decoration. The precise lines capture the organic curves of petals and the textured shells of acorns, blending botanical realism with stylized symmetry—a hallmark of Mannerist ornamentation. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, it reflects how such books bridged art and everyday life. Culturally, these studies promoted needlework as a refined skill for women, intertwining education, piety, and creativity in 16th-century households. Acquired through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1918, this page invites us to appreciate the unsung artistry of pattern design and Parasole's pioneering role in a male-dominated field.

About the Artist

Isabella Catanea Parasole|Antonio Fachetti (Italian|Italian) · 1565 | –1625 |

Italian, ca. 1565/70–ca. 1625|