Les Secondes Oeuvres, et Subtiles Inventions De Lingerie du Seigneur Federic de Vinciolo Venitien, page 58 (recto)

Art Historical Context

Step into the intricate world of Renaissance ornamentation with this woodcut from page 58 (recto) of *Les Secondes Oeuvres, et Subtiles Inventions De Lingerie du Seigneur Federic de Vinci Venitien*, published in 1603. Created by Venetian designer Federico de Vinciolo, with contributions from Jean Le Cler and Catherine de Bourbon, this print hails from a celebrated pattern book showcasing delicate lace and needlework designs. At 9 7/16 x 6 1/2 inches, it captures the era's fascination with "lingerie"—fine linen embroideries and reticella lace—prized by European nobility for ruffs, cuffs, and opulent garments. Printed via woodcut, a labor-intensive relief technique where intricate patterns were carved into wood blocks and inked for mass reproduction, this page served as a practical template for artisans. Its precise lines and symmetrical motifs reflect the transition from Renaissance symmetry to emerging Baroque flourish, making it a vital resource for lacemakers and embroiderers across France and beyond. Held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1939), this ornament exemplifies how printed books democratized high fashion, bridging art and craft in the early 17th century. Imagine royal wardrobes adorned with patterns traced from these very pages—timeless elegance etched in wood.

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