Giardineto novo di punti tagliati et gropposi per exercitio & ornamento delle donne (Venice 1554), page 23 (verso)

Art Historical Context

Step into the intricate world of Renaissance needlework with this woodcut from *Giardineto novo di punti tagliati et gropposi per exercio & ornamento delle*, published in Venice in 1554 by Matteoano. Page 23 (verso) showcases delicate ornamental patterns designed for "cut and raised stitches," a sophisticated lace-making technique popular among women for both practice and personal adornment. Measuring just 7-5/8 x 6-3/8 inches, this precise woodcut exemplifies the era's printmaking prowess, allowing complex motifs—think floral arabesques and geometric flourishes—to be reproduced affordably for home use. In 16th-century Venice, a hub of artistic innovation, pattern books like this democratized high fashion. Pagano's publication catered to the growing demand for lace and embroidery among the nobility and emerging middle class, blending utility with beauty. Woodcuts, carved into blocks and inked for multiple impressions, ensured designs spread across Europe, influencing textiles from altar cloths to collars. Held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (acquired via Rogers Fund, 1921), this page highlights the cultural fusion of art, craft, and gender roles. It reminds us how print technology elevated women's domestic arts into enduring Renaissance treasures, inviting modern visitors to appreciate the patience behind every stitch.

About the Artist

Lloyd, Wallis & Lloyd|Matteo Pagano (British|Italian) · 1821 |1515 –1900 |1588

British, active London after 1821|Italian, 1515–1588