I guess the real answers is-- do whatever the fabric wants to do! Some likes to be pleated, some can only be gathered. I don't think there is a wrong answer in this case. Those Venetians did it all. Eleonora's dress simply had a few very deep knife pleats. The Pisa dress, almost the same pattern and era, is gathered. The German and English ones saw a lot of cartridge pleats.

Just curious, which Venetians look cartridge and boxed to you? I'd love to see them! So much eye candy!