Les Secondes Oeuvres, et Subtiles Inventions De Lingerie du Seigneur Federic de Vinciolo Venitien, page 53 (recto)
Medium
Woodcut
Dimensions
Overall: 9 7/16 x 6 1/2 in. (24 x 16.5 cm)
Classification
Books|Prints|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1939
Accession Number
39.30(59)
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Welcome to page 53 (recto) from *Les Secondes Oeuvres, et Subtiles Inventions de Lingerie* by Federico de Vinciolo, the Venetian master of lace patterns, published in 1603. This woodcut print, measuring 9 7/16 x 6 1/2 inches, features intricate ornamental designs attributed to Vinciolo, with contributions from printer Jean Le Clerc and the skilled embroiderer Catherine de Bourbon, sister of King Henry IV of France. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, it exemplifies Renaissance pattern books that democratized high fashion for home needleworkers. Created during the late Renaissance, when lace became a status symbol in European courts, this page showcases "subtle inventions" for lingerie—fine linens and reticella lace motifs. Vinciolo's seminal books, starting with his 1587 publication, spread Venetian techniques across Europe, influencing fashion from undergarments to ruffs. Woodcuts were ideal for their crisp lines, allowing precise replication by lacemakers before engraving's rise. These designs highlight the era's fusion of art and craft, blending geometry with floral elegance. Fun fact: Catherine de Bourbon's involvement underscores women's pivotal role in decorative arts, turning patterns into wearable luxury. A treasure for ornament enthusiasts!
About the Artist
Federico de Vinciolo|Jean Le Clerc|Catherine de Bourbon (Italian| |French) · 1582 | |1558 –1599 | |1604
Italian, active Paris, ca. 1587–99| |French, 1558–1604