Corona delle Nobili et Virtuose Donne: Libro I-IV, page 110 (recto)

Art Historical Context

Cesare Vecellio, a renowned Venetian engraver and costume designer of the late Renaissance, created this woodcut illustration as page 110 (recto) from *Corona delle Nobili Virtuose Donne: Libro I-IV*, published in 1601. The title, meaning "Crown of Noble and Virtuous Women," Vecellio's fascination with fashion as a marker of status, virtue, and identity. His works, including this multi-volume book, cataloged attire from ancient and modern cultures, blending ethnography with artistry to preserve vanishing traditions amid Europe's expanding world. Printed on a modest 5½ x 7⅝ inches (14 x 19.5 cm) sheet, the woodcut exemplifies the technique's precision for book production—carved into wood blocks for inked impressions that allowed affordable dissemination of visual knowledge. Vecellio's intricate lines capture ornamental motifs like animals and vases, likely adorning noble women's garments or symbolic emblems of elegance and abundance. These elements highlight Renaissance ideals of *virtù* (virtue) tied to beauty and refinement. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Rogers Fund, 1918), this page offers a window into 17th-century Italian visual culture, where prints bridged art and everyday life, educating elites on cosmopolitan style.

About the Artist

Cesare Vecellio · 1521–1601

Cesare was a distant cousin of the famous Titian, and studied in his shop. He was a member of the branch of Vecellio descended from Giovanni Antonio. He is best known for his prints; he published illustrated books on costume, embroidery and lacemaking, and other subjects. Francesco, Cesare, Orazio and Marco were the only family members allowed to use the appellation "di Tiziano." Comment on works:...