Book Illustration, Corona delle nobili, et virtuose donne, vol. 4, Lace Design, plate 3

Cesare Vecellio ,a Renaissance Italian engraver and painter, designed a series of patterns for lace that were published in Venice as woodcut prints in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The detailed and delicate patterns, which include forms inspired by birds and plants, chronicle the elaborate lace styles of the era. Vecellio’s attention to detail and the intricate use of line demonstrate his skill as delineator and engraver. Such pattern books, several of which were reissued in the 19th century, were valuable resources for lace makers worldwide.