La Vera Perfettione del Disegno di varie sorti di recami, page 37 (verso)

Art Historical Context

This woodcut from 1567 comes from *La Vera Perfettione del Disegno di varie sorti di recami*, a pattern book created to guide embroidery and needlework. Published in Venice, the volume offered practical designs for household and decorative use, featuring delicate floral motifs and elegant vases that could be transferred onto fabric. As a woodcut, the medium allowed for crisp, repeatable lines that made the patterns accessible to a wide audience of artisans and gentlewomen. The designs are attributed in part to Giuseppe Salviati (also known as Giuseppe Porta), a Mannerist painter whose refined sense of proportion and ornament lent sophistication to what was essentially a craft manual. Giovanni Ostaus, the book’s author and likely publisher, compiled these pages to elevate embroidery from domestic pastime to a recognized art form. Today, this page in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection highlights the Renaissance interest in merging fine art with everyday creativity. Its floral and vase motifs reflect both the period’s fascination with nature and the growing market for printed design resources.