Italian Patterns

This body of work started with a 1906 portfolio of 16 hand drawn antique fashion patterns found inside the portfolio’s cover, information page, and backing.  The entire portfolio at one time was bound with thread or string like a book at three places on the left of each page.  The information on the title page says:

Studio della Gonna, Il Modelli, Base Applicato alla Moda, 1/3 scale, Allegato No. 5, Cartella No. 5

The watermark on the paper is “PM Fabriano”.

On the back of each page is an unevenly stamped mark in blue ink which reads:

Adele Sovena Donati, Orvieto, Metodo brenellato (this last word is difficult to read)

I have added acrylic paint and collage to each page of patterns.  The pages that were at the top of the portfolio have evidence of foxing.

These works include painting over 100 plus-years-old, original, fashion patterns from Orvieto, Italy.  The shapes reminded me of Giorgio Morandi’s bottles, constellations, and maps.  I let chance dictate the colors and collaged over them with seashells found along the Mediterranean coast cut from an old book.