Tue Feb 12, 2019 05:52 PM

Morning Modelbuch (2/13/2019)

I continue to be attracted to bold patterns that seem appropriate for applique that show up in paintings like “Portrait of a Woman with a Book of Music,” by Francesco Ubertini Bacchiacca from around 1540. Looking further into this painting, however, is even more exciting. In addition to the chunky patterns in the dress ornament, there are fine swirling moresque style patterns in the sash, florals in the balzo, and the birds and scrolls down on the tablecloth. While the birds are a bit more naturalistic than those in the pattern books (most probably because painting birds was a specialty of the painter and he was having fun,) the varied types of patterns all turn up in the books. Often in the same books, as publishers advertised the variety of types of ornament as a selling feature. Sometimes it seems a mishmash, but then you see the disparity combined harmoniously like in this portrait.

These plates are from Ostaus _La Vera Perfettione del Disegno di vair sorti di recami_ from 1567 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/662390

http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/objects/668/bachiacca-francesco-ubertini-portrait-of-a-woman-with-a-book-of-music-italian-about-1540-1545/