Teatro delle Nobili et Virtuose Donne..., page 7 (recto)

Art Historical Context

This page from the 1616 book *Teatro delle Nobili et Virtuose Donne...* (The Theater of Noble and Virtuous Women) showcases the collaborative efforts of Isabella Catanea Parasole and Mauritio Bona. Created through woodcut and engraving techniques, the sheet measures roughly 7½ by 10⅞ inches and forms part of the Metropolitan Museum’s holdings in ornament and architecture. As page 7 (recto), it belongs to an early-seventeenth-century publication intended to circulate decorative designs among educated readers and artisans. The combination of woodcut and engraving allowed for crisp, repeatable motifs that could be transferred to textiles, furniture, or architectural details. Such printed pattern books played an important role in spreading ornamental ideas across Europe during a period when printed images were becoming more affordable and widely available. The presence of acorn motifs on this sheet reflects the era’s interest in natural forms drawn from classical sources and everyday observation. Today the page offers visitors a glimpse into how Renaissance and Baroque designers blended utility with beauty, turning simple botanical elements into elegant, reusable patterns for both domestic and public settings.

About the Artist

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

Italian, ca. 1565/70–ca. 1625|