Rudolf II and Prague : the court and the city ; [on the occasion of the Exhibition "Rudolf II and Prague: the Imperial Court and Residential City as the Cultural and Spiritual Heart of Central Europe", 30 May 1997-7 September 1997

In the summer of 1997 the city of Prague, former seat of one of the greatest and most influential monarchs in history, Rudolf II, is hosting a spectacular three-month celebration of art, music, and science. Nearly four hundred years after Rudolf's death in 1612, the reign of this enlightened and eccentric Hapsburg ruler, and the kaleidoscope of talents he assembled at his court, continues to capture our interest. Now, for the first time in Prague's history, his glorious realm is on display for all the world to see. In venues throughout Prague every aspect of Rudolf's extraordinary court can be seen: painting, sculpture, engraving, scientific and astrological instruments, decorative arts, and alchemical tools. The artists of the city--its aristocracy, clergy, burghers, craftsmen, and Jewish community--all flourished during Rudolf's cosmopolitan reign, and for the first time ever their achievements are being shown. Prepared with the Prague Castle Administration, this official and comprehensive catalogue contains the most significant artistic achievements of both court and city--and some of the most rarely seen. There are twenty-seven essays covering a wide range of topics and written by a team of international experts, many of whom offer new perspectives based on recent discoveries. Foreword -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Contributors -- Imperial Court -- Prague Castle Under Rudolf Ii, His Predecessors And Successors, 1530-1648 -- In The Name Of God: Religious Struggles In The Empire, 1555-1648 -- King Ferdinand I Of Bohemia, Archduke Ferdinand Ii And The Prague Court, 1527-1567 -- Architectural Styles In The Reign Of Rudolf Ii: Italian And Hispanic Influences -- Perspective On Prague: Rudolfine Stylistics Reviewed -- Picturing The Artist In Rudolfine Prague -- Portraits Of Emperor Rudolf Ii -- Landscapes And City Views Of Prague -- Roelandt Savery And The 'discovery' Of The Alpine Waterfall -- Natural History Illustration At The Court Of Rudolf Ii -- Engraving At The Court Of Prague -- Pictor Doctus: Drawing And The Theory Of Art Around 1600 -- Thoughts On Rudolfine Art In The 'court Workshops' Of Prague -- The Kunstkammer Of Rudolf Ii: Where It Was And What It Looked Like -- Cabinets, Collecting And Natural Philosophy -- The Court Of Rudolf Ii And Humanist Culture -- Scientific And Magical Humanism At The Court Of Rudolf Ii -- Natural Philosophy And Natural Magic -- From Feuding Brothers To A Nation At War With Itself -- Residential City -- Prague Between 1550 And 1650 -- The Nobility In The Czech Lands, 1550-1650 -- The Public And Private Lives Of Prague's Burghers -- The Jewish Town In Prague -- The Religious Situation In Rudolfine Prague -- Education In Rudolfine Prague -- Book-printing And Other Forms Of Publishing In Prague, 1550-1650 -- Bookbinding: Style And Ornament -- Architecture In Prague, 1550-1650 -- Sculpture And Painting In Prague, 1550-1650 -- The Decorative Arts -- Catalogue -- Imperial Court -- I. Painting, Sculpture, Drawings And Engravings At The Court Of Rudolf Ii -- Ii. The Kunstkammer Of Rudolf Ii -- Iii. History, Architecture And Funeralia -- Iv. Science And Music -- Residential City -- Exhibitions -- Literature -- Index. Edited By Eliška Fučíková ... [et Al.]. Published On The Occasion Of The Exhibition: Rudolf Ii And Prague, The Imperial Court And Residential City As The Cultural And Spiritual Heart Of Central Europe, 30 May 1997-7 September 1997--t.p. Verso. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 776-789) And Index. Title page Contents Prague Castle under Rudolf II, his predecessors and successors In the name of God. Religious struggles in the Empire, 1555-1648 King Ferdinand I of Bohemia, Archduke Ferdinand II and the Praague Court, 1527-1567 Architectural styles in the reign of Rudolf II. Italian and Hispanic influences Perspective on Prague. Rudolfine stylistics revived Picturing the artist in Rudolfine Prague Portraits of Emperor Rudolf II Landscapes and city views of Prague Roelandt Savery and the ʻdiscovery’ of the Alpine waterfall Natural history illustration at the court of Rudolf II Engraving at the court of Prague Pictor doctus: Drawing and the theory of art around 1600 Thoughts on Rudolfine art in the ʻcourt workshops’ in Prague The Kunstkammer of Rudolf II: Where it was and what it looked like Cabinets, collecting and natural philosophy The court of Rudolf II and humanist culture Scientific and magical humanism at the court of Rudolf II Natural philosophy and natural magic From feuding brothers to a nation at war with itself Prague between 1550 and 1650 The nobility in the Czech lands, 1550-1650 The public and private lives of Prague’s burghers The Jewish town in Prague The religious situation in Rudolfine Prague Education in Rudolfine Prague Book-printing and other forms of publishing in Prague, 1550-1650 Bookbinding: Style and ornament Architecture in Prague, 1550-1650 Sculpture and painting in Prague, 1550-1650 The decorative arts CATALOGUE IMPERIAL COURT Section I. Painting, sculpture, drawings and engravings Section II. The Kunstkammer of Rudolf II Section III. History, architecture and funeralia Section IV. Science and music ’The merchants of light’ Science and instruments RESIDENTIAL CITY Section V. Prague – Residential city, 1550-1650 Public and private life in the city This volume looks at the life of Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia and Hungary, placing this shadowy and fugitive figure in the context of the sweeping cultural changes between the old order of mysticism and the rise of the intellectual during the decades around 1600. This publication presents the most significant creations of the court and city of Prague during the reign of Emperor Rudolf II, from scientific instruments and alchemical tools to extraordinary works of art, from mysterious emblems to decorative objects and furniture.