The tradition of art and wonder chambers (where the aim was to depict the world in its entirety) developed in the 17th century into "The Cabinet of Curiosities", the subject of the wonderful illustrated book (256 pages). The outstanding collectors included rulers of the European nobility, but also very wealthy merchants and scholars. The cover picture shows a so-called "shaking box" from the collection of Ferdinand II (Ambras Castle). When the box is shaken, the replicas of turtles and other animals (made from papier-mâché) move. Heads and limbs are provided with joints. Right: examples of automata show a new movement between art and nature. Turtle and Neptune are movable (Germany, 16th century). Overall, there are several depictions related to turtles in the abundance of the book. The Cabinet of Curiosities became a source of inspiration for today's artists via surrealists in the 1920s. In the exhibition "The Consolation of Things" at the Lenbachhaus Munich (May 17 - October 13, 2024), the Nobel Prize winner for literature, artist and museum founder Orhan Pamuk (Turkey) builds on the long and international tradition. A quote from the exhibition: "In his three-dimensional collages, he creates a world of his own, like in cabinets of curiosities, in which the power of things unfolds a poetic force." [hint: this is an automatic translation from German]   |   Category: Art books   |   Material: Papier   |   Country of origin: Bavaria, Germany | Similar pieces