Animating Empire: Automata, the Holy Roman Empire and the Invention of the Early Modern World

185 Pages·2018·15.079 MB·English

by  Jessica Keating

j e s s i c a k e a t i n g
Automata, the Holy
Roman Empire, and the
Early Modern World
Animating Empire
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Animating Empire
Auto mata, the Holy Roman Empire,
and the Early Modern World
Jessica Keating
The Pennsylvania State University Press
University Park, Pennsylvania
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This book is made possible by a collaborative grant Copyright © 2018 Jessica Keating
from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. All rights reserved.
Printed in Korea.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in- Publication Data Published by The Pennsylvania State University Press,
Names: Keating, Jessica, 1979– author. University Park, PA 16802-1003
Title: Animating empire : automata, the Holy Roman
Empire, and the early modern world / Jessica Keating. The Pennsylvania State University Press is a member
Description: University Park, Pennsylvania : of the Association of American University Presses.
The Pennsylvania State University Press, [2018] |
Includes bibliographical references and index. It is the policy of The Pennsylvania State University
Summary: “Recounts the histories of German clockwork Press to use acid-free paper. Publications on uncoated
automata, which were given as gifts and collected in stock satisfy the minimum requirements of Amer-
the Holy Roman Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and ican National Standard for Information Sciences—
Mughal Empire in the sixteenth and seventeenth P ermanence of Paper for Printed Library Material,
centuries”—Provided by publisher. ANSI Z39.48–1992.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017033795 | ISBN 9780271080024
(cloth : alk. paper) Frontispiece: Burghley Nef, 1527–1528, Victoria and
Subjects: LCSH: Robots—Holy Roman Empire—History— Albert Museum, London.
16th century. | Robots—Holy Roman Empire—
History—17th century. | Robots in art. Design and composition by Chris Crochetière,
Classification: LCC TJ211 .K43 2018 | DDC BW&A Books, Inc.
629.80943/09031—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017033795
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F or my parents,
  Lisa, Phil, and Eddie
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Contents
List of Illustrations viii
Acknowledgments xiii
1
 Early Modern Auto mata: An Abridged History 1
2
  Ever More Variations on the Imperial Theme
at the Court of Rudolf II 17
3
 The Gifts That Keep on Giving 37
4
 A Figure of Speech 59
5
 Habsburg- Ottoman Diplomatic Machinery 77
6
 Metamorphosis at the Mughal Court 95
Conclusion 121
Notes 125
Bibliography 149
Index 165
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Illustrations
1. Valentin Drausch and Hans Schlottheim, und vier weltlichen Kurfürsten mit Symbolen
Trumpeter Automa ton, 1582, Kunsthistorisches ihrer Krönungsämters, 1500–1536, Aachen
Museum, Vienna. Photo: KHM- Museum s- Stadtarchiv, DA 24. Photo: Anne Gold. 27
verband. 3 10. Christusmantel, 1525, Weltliche Schatz -
2. Hans Schlottheim, London Nef, 1580–1590, kammer, Vienna. Photo: KHM-
British Museum, London. Photo © The Trustees Museumsverband. 29
of the British Museum. All rights reserved. 18 11. Christusmantel (detail), 1525, Weltliche
3. Hans Schlottheim, Écouen Nef, 1580–1590, Schatzkammer, Vienna. Photo: KHM-
Musée national de la Renaissance, Écouen. Museums verband. 29
Photo: RMN- Grand Palais / Art Resource, New 12. Allegory of the Emperor and the Pope, ca. 1495,
York (Hervé Lewandowski). 18 National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
4. Burghley Nef, 1527–1528, The Victoria and Rosenwald Collection, 1958.8.157. Photo cour-
Albert Museum, London. Photo © Victoria and tesy National Gallery of Art, Washington,
Albert Museum. 20 D.C. 31
5. Limbourg Brothers, January: New Year’s Reception 13. Giuseppe Arcimboldo, Vertumnus, 1590,
of the Duke Jean de Berry, from the Très Riches Skoklosters Slott, Stockholm. Photo courtesy
Heures, 1411–1416, Musée Condé, Chantilly, of Skoklosters Slott, Stockholm. 34
Ms. 65, fol. 1v. Photo: RMN- Grand Palais / Art 14. Hans Schlottheim, Christmas Crib Automa-
Resource, New York (René-Gabriel Ojéda). 21 ton, 1588, formerly in the Mathematisch-
6. Hans Schlottheim, London Nef (detail), 1580– Physikalischer Salon, Dresden. Photo: bpk
1590, British Museum, London. Photo © The Bildagentur / Staatliche Kunstsammlungen /
Trustees of the British Museum. 24 Art Resource, New York. 38
7. Hans Schlottheim, Écouen Nef (detail), 1580– 15. Wenzel Jamnitzer, Prunkkassette, 1588, Grünes
1590, Musée national de la Renaissance, Écouen. Gewölbe, Dresden, Inv. IV 115. Photo: bpk
Photo: RMN- Grand Palais / Art Resource, Bildagentur / Staatliche Kunstsammlungen /
New York (Hervé Lewandowski). 25 Jürgen Karpinski / Art Resource, New
8. Hans Schlottheim, Écouen Nef (detail), 1580– York. 39
1590, Musée national de la Renaissance, Écouen. 16. Luleff Meyer and Dirich Utermarke,
Photo: RMN- Grand Palais / Art Resource, Lüneburger Spiegel, 1587–1592, Grünes
New York (Hervé Lewandowski). 26 Gewölbe, Dresden, Inv. IV 110. Photo: bpk
9. Hans Weiditz, Holzschnitt zu einer vierseitigen Bildagentur / Staatliche Kunstsammlungen
Schrift über Einzug und Krönung Karls V. in Aachen / Jürgen Karpinski / Art Resource, New
1520 mit Darstellung Karls V. und den drei geistlichen York. 39
viii
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17. Hans Schlottheim, Christmas Crib Automa ton 26. Verkehrte Welt Automa ton (detail), 1560–1570,
(detail), 1588, formerly in the Mathematisch- Residenz Schatzkammer, Munich. Photo:
Physikalischer Salon, Dresden. Photo: bpk Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung, Maria Scherf
Bildagentur / Staatliche Kunstsammlungen / / Rainer Herrmann, Munich. 63
Art Resource, New York. 43 27. Swiss Tapestry Cushion with Reynard the Fox,
18. Hans Schlottheim, Christmas Crib Automa ton ca. 1525, Burrell Collection, Glasgow. Photo
(detail), 1588, formerly in the Mathematisch- © CSG CIC Glasgow Museums and Libraries
Physikalischer Salon, Dresden. Photo: bpk Collections. 65
Bildagentur / Staatliche Kunstsammlungen / 28. Pabenham- Clifford Hours (formerly the Grey-
Art Resource, New York. 43 Fitzpayn Hours), Ms. 242, fol. 55v, 1315–1320,
19. Kreibitz School, Electors Tankard, 1588, Grünes Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. Photo
Gewölbe, Dresden, Inv.-Nr. 37085. Photo: bpk © Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge /
Bildagentur / Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Art Resource, New York. 66
/ Jürgen Karpinski / Art Resource, New 29. Minnekästchen, fifteenth century, Bayerisches
York. 45 Nationalmuseum, Munich, Inv.-Nr. MA 2398.
20. Persepolis Eastern Stairway, 522–486/485 bce. Photo © Bayerisches Nationalmuseum. 67
Photo: Bridgeman-Giraudon / Art Resource, 30. Franco- Flemish Book of Hours, Ms. 104,
New York. 47 fol. 28, fourteenth century, Walters Art
21. Petrus Schoyff, Presentation Scene with Duke Museum, Baltimore. Photo courtesy of The
Charles of Orleans, from Justinian, Institutions, Walters Art Museum. 68
before 1458, Bibliothèque nationale de 31. Abraham Gessner, Verkehrte Welt Platter,
France, Paris, Ms. fr. 497, fol. Av. Photo: 1580, Schweizerisches Nationalmuseum,
BnF. 48 Zurich, DEP-265. Photo: Schweizerisches
22. Epitaph for Heinrich von Schönberg, in Gottfried Nationalmuseum. 69
Michaelis’s Dresdenisch Inscriptiones und Epitaphia, 32. Georg Pencz, The Content of Two Sermons,
welche auf denen . . . in und außer der Kircher 1529, Kupferstichkabinett, Berlin. Photo: bpk
zu unser Lieben Frauen . . . zu finden, 1714, Bildagentur / Staatliche Museen / Jörg P.
Kupferstichkabinett, Dresden. Photo: bpk Anders / Art Resource, New York. 71
Bildagentur / Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen 33. Pancratz Kempf, The Difference between the True
/ Herbert Boswank / Art Resource, New Religion of Christ and the False Idolatrous Teachings
York. 53 of the Antichrist, 1550. Photo © The Image Works
23. Luleff Meyer and Dirich Utermarke, / AKG Images. 71
Lüneburger Spiegel (detail), 1587–1592, Grünes 34. Hans Brosamer (attrib.), The Seven Heads
Gewölbe, Dresden, Inv. IV 110. Photo: bpk of Martin Luther, 1529. Title page from
Bildagentur / Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Johannes Cochlaeus, Sieben Köpfe Martin
/ Jürgen Karpinski / Art Resource, New Luthers: Vom hochwirdigen Sacrament des
York. 54 Altars (Leipzig: Valentin Schumann, 1529).
24. Lorenz Faust, Anatomia Statua Danielis, fold- Bayerische Staatsbibliothek München, Res/4
out from Lorenz Faust’s Anatomia Statuae Polem. 1917#Beibd.1. Photo: Bayerisches
Danielis, 1586. Bayerische Staatsbibliothek Staatsbibliothek. 75
München, Res/4 H.un. 53. Photo: Bayerische 35. Pashas on Horseback, 1580–1590, Newark Museum
Staatsbibliothek. 55 of Art, Newark, New Jersey. Collection of the
25. Verkehrte Welt Automa ton, 1560–1570, Newark Museum, 67.309. Bequest of Susan
Residenz Schatzkammer, Munich. Photo: Dwight Bliss, 1967. Photo: Newark Museum of
Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung, Maria Scherf Art. 78
/ Rainer Herrmann, Munich. 60 36. Sultan on Horseback with Attendants, 1590,
ix Illustrations
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