Making marvels : science and splendor at the courts of Europe

Bibliographic Information

Making marvels : science and splendor at the courts of Europe

edited by Wolfram Koeppe

Metropolitan Museum of Art , Distributed by Yale University Press, c2019

Available at  / 3 libraries

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Note

Exhibition catalogue

Published in conjunction with an exhibition held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, from Nov. 25, 2019-Mar. 1, 2020

Includes bibliographical references (p. 269-298) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

Innovation, technology, and spectacle combine in wondrous works of decorative art and furniture that embody the splendor and luxury of the royal courts of Europe At once beautiful works of art and technological wonders, the objects featured in Making Marvels demonstrate how European royalty from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment signaled their status through their collections of ingeniously crafted inventions. Featuring 150 exemplary objects ranging from mechanical toys to scientific instruments, timepieces to automata, this groundbreaking study brings to life a glorious period when luxury, a quest for knowledge, scientific invention, and political power combined to produce remarkable works of art. More than frivolous playthings, these works inspired technical innovations that influenced a broad spectrum of activities, including astronomy, engineering, and artisanal craftsmanship. This remarkable volume explores works in a wide range of materials, including precious metals, gemstones, pietra dura, marble, ivory, wood, bone, shell, glass, and paper. The book's compelling essays address the layered historical context in which these objects were fashioned and gathered into cabinets of wonder at courts throughout Europe; elucidate their complex blending of art and science; and provide fascinating details about the patrons who commissioned them and the specialists who made them. Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press Exhibition Schedule: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (November 25, 2019-March 1, 2020)

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