“Stop to appreciate this intricate woodcut design, a practical template from 1591 used by embroiderers to create beautiful textiles for clothing and home decor. It's a window into the decorative arts of the late Renaissance.”
This woodcut, "Fiori di Ricami Nuovamente Posti in Luce, page 4 (recto)," presents a delicate design intended for embroidery. The page features two distinct patterns, each framed by a thin border. On the left, a vertical panel displays a repeating motif of stylized floral elements, their petals and leaves unfurling in a symmetrical rhythm. To the right, a smaller, square design offers a more intricate, almost lace-like arrangement of leaves and tendrils, suggesting a corner embellishment. These patterns are not merely decorative; they served as practical templates for artisans in the late 16th century, guiding their needlework for clothing, linens, and household items. The precise lines and careful rendering demonstrate the skill required to translate complex designs into a printable format, making these books invaluable resources for the decorative arts of the period.
- Artist
- Matteo Florimi
- Date
- 1591
- Medium
- Woodcut
- Location
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Dimensions
- Overall: 5 1/2 x 7 7/8 in. (14 x 20 cm)
- Collection
- Drawings and Prints
- Credit line
- The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1953
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

Observe the two distinct patterns on this single page.
Note the repeating floral motif in the vertical panel on the left.
Examine the delicate, almost lace-like quality of the square design on the right.
See the fine lines that define each leaf and petal, typical of woodcut printing.
Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through Fiori di Ricami Nuovamente Posti in Luce, page 4 (recto) — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
Matteo Florimi
1540–1603Matteo Florimi was a prolific Italian engraver and publisher, known for his religious prints and intricate embroidery patterns.
Further Works by Florimi
Virgin and Child with the infant Saint John the Baptist
1576 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Crucifixion with the Virgin Mary and Saint John the Evangelist, angels overhead
1588 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Fiori di Ricami Nuovamente Posti in Luce, page 11 (recto)
1591 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Fiori di Ricami Nuovamente Posti in Luce, page 18 (recto)
1591 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Fiori di Ricami Nuovamente Posti in Luce, page 6 (recto)
1591 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Fiori di Ricami Nuovamente Posti in Luce, page 7 (recto)
1591 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Fiori di Ricami Nuovamente Posti in Luce, page 8 (recto)
1591 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Fiori di Ricami Nuovamente Posti in Luce, page 9 (recto)
1591 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
More works to explore
Beyond Florimi: works from the same years.
Same era · 1570s–1600s
Saint Francis Kneeling in Meditation
El Greco · 1597 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1570s–1600s
The Entombment of Christ
Caravaggio · 1600 · Pinacoteca Vaticana
Same era · 1570s–1600s
Flower Arrangements
Artist Unknown - The Mercat Cross, Aberdeen · 1595 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1570s–1600s
The Lamentation with Saint Francis and Two Angels
Peter Paul Rubens · 1603 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1570s–1600s
Wooded landscape with a road
Jan Brueghel the Elder · 1602
Same era · 1570s–1600s
Female Head
Gaetano Gandolfi · 1592 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1570s–1600s
Flowers and Birds
Zhou Zhimian · 1595 · Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Same era · 1570s–1600s
Half Armor for the Foot Tournament
Pompeo della Cesa · 1585 · Cleveland Museum of Art
Same era · 1570s–1600s
The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne
Georges de La Tour · 1600 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1570s–1600s
La Pratique de l'Aiguille, page 11 (recto)
Matthias Mignerak · 1605 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
