Isabella Parasole

Who is Isabella Parasole?

Isabella Parasole was an Italian engraver on wood of the late-Mannerist and early-Baroque periods.

She was born and active in Rome. She married the engraver Leonardo Norsini, who took his wife's more distinguished last name. Her sister, Geronima Parasole, was also an engraver and made a woodcut of Antonio Tempesta's Battle of the Centaurs. Isabella executed several cuts of plants for an herbal, published under the direction of Federico Cesi, of Acquasparta. She published a book on the methods of working lace and embroidery, with ornamental cuts, which she engraved from her own designs. Her son Bernardino Parasole became a pupil of Giuseppe Cesari, but died young. She was working at Rome about 1600, and died there in her 50th year.