Studio delle virtuose Dame, page 24 (recto)

Art Historical Context

In the late Renaissance, Italian women like Isabella Catanea Parasole ground in the male-dominated world of printmaking. This woodcut from page 24 (recto) of her 1597 book * delle virtuose Dame* ("Studio for Virtuous Ladies") showcases her collaboration with Antonio Fachetti Measuring a compact 5½ x 8 inches, it belongs to a genre of pattern books designed for noblewomen and skilled artisans, offering intricate ornamental designs for lace-making, embroidery, and needlework—essential "virtuous" pursuits that blended artistry with domestic refinement. Printed via woodcut—a relief technique where raised surfaces are inked for precise, repeatable patterns—this page exemplifies the era's booming market for instructional prints. Parasole's clear, elegant lines made complex motifs accessible, democratizing decorative arts across Europe. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1918), it highlights how such books fueled the ornamental Renaissance, influencing fashion, textiles, and architecture while celebrating women's creative ingenuity.

About the Artist

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

Italian, ca. 1565/70–ca. 1625|