Fiore D'Ogni Virtu Per le Nobili Et Honeste Matrone, page 33 (recto)

Art Historical Context

**Fiore D'Ogni Virtu Per le Nobili Et Honeste Matrone, page 33 (recto)** This intricate woodcut, from page 33 (recto) of Isabella Catanea Parasole's 1610 book *Fiore D'Ogni Virtu Per le Nobili Et Honeste Matrone* ("Flower of Every Virtue for Noble and Honest Matrons"), was produced in collaboration with Antonio Fachetti. Measuring 7 7/8 x 10 1/4 inches, it belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints collection, gifted through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1937. As part of a pattern book classified under ornament and architecture, the page likely features delicate designs symbolizing virtues, tailored for embroidery or lace-making by elite women. In early 17th-century Italy, during the late Renaissance, such books empowered noble matrons to cultivate moral and artistic skills at home, blending piety with domestic creativity. Parasole, a rare female printmaker of her era, specialized in these accessible guides, promoting "honest" pursuits that aligned with Counter-Reformation ideals of virtuous femininity. Woodcuts like this enabled affordable reproduction, democratizing ornamental patterns across households. Artistically, the medium's bold lines and textures highlight Parasole's skill in capturing elaborate motifs, from floral frames to allegorical figures. This page exemplifies how prints bridged fine art and craft, inspiring generations of women in needlework while preserving cultural motifs of virtue and beauty.

About the Artist

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

Italian, ca. 1565/70–ca. 1625|