Teatro delle Nobili et Virtuose Donne..., page 31 (recto)

Art Historical Context

Step into the intricate world of 17th-century Italian design with page 31 (recto) from *Teatro delle Nobili et Virtuose Donne* (The of Noble and Virtuous), created in 1616 by pioneering engraver Isabella Catanea Paras in collaboration with Maurit Bona. This woodcut and engraving, measuring 7½ x 10⅞ inches, is a delicate page from a pattern book housed in the Metropolitan Museum of's Drawings and Prints department acquired through the Rogers Fund in 9. Rendered with the precision of woodcut's bold blocks and engraving's fine lines, it showcases ornamental motifs ideal for lace, embroidery, and textiles—hallmarks of Renaissance-era craftsmanship. Parasole, one of the few documented female printmakers of her time, produced these books to inspire "noble and virtuous women" in domestic arts, bridging art and everyday creativity during the early Baroque period. Such pattern books democratized elaborate designs, allowing artisans across Europe to replicate motifs blending floral arabesques and architectural elements, as tagged here under Ornament & Architecture. This artwork highlights women's roles in visual culture, preserving techniques that influenced fashion and interiors for centuries. Gaze closely at the interplay of textures, and you'll sense the tactile allure that once guided needles and looms in elegant households.

About the Artist

Isabella Catanea Parasole|Mauritio Bona (Italian|Italian) · 1565 | –1625 |

Italian, ca. 1565/70–ca. 1625|