Prodromus Seu Præambulare Lumen Reserati Portentosæ Magnificentiæ Theatri, Quo Omnia Ad Aulam Cæsaream In Augustissimæ Suæ Cæsareæ, & Regiæ Catholicæ Majestatis nostri gloriosissimè Regnantis Monarchæ Caroli VI. Metropoli, Et Residentia Viennæ Recondita Artificiorum, Et Pretiositatum Decora Præcipuè copiosissima, quæ ibidem asservantur, tabularum, picturarum, Statuarum, Imaginum, aliorumque ab Artificum Principibus elaboratorum operum Miracula Fideliter, & absque defectu æri sunt incisa, & annexa brevi Introductione Mæcenatum utilitati, & voluptati Edita A Francisco de Stampart, Et Antonio De Brenner Cæsareæ Cameræ Pictoribus.
RA Collection: Book
Record number
03/2378
Imprint
Viennæ Austriæ,: Typis Joannis Petri van Ghelen, Sacræ Cæsareæ Regiæque Catholicæ Majestatis Aulæ Typographi.
Some copies lack the engraved Catalogus. In Prince Hoare's copy (RA Inv. 03/2378) the leaf carrying the 'Publication ...' and the 'Anmerckung' has been bound in in such a way that the 'Anmerckung' precedes the 'Publication'.
Contents
[T.p. in Latin; t.p. in German; engr. dedic.] - Præfatio [in parallel Latin and German] - [Plates] - Publication Das Kaiserliche Gallerie-Werck betreffend; Anmerckung - Catalogus Nominum Pictorum In Isto Opere [engr. list].
Responsibility Note
One of the plates and two head-pieces are signed as drawn and engraved by Prenner.
The work is dedicated to the Holy Roman Emperor (Charles VI) by 'Gundaccarus Comes ab Althann', Director General of the Imperial Gallery.
References
F. Matsche, Die Kunst im Dienst der Staatsidee Kaiser Karls VI, vol. I (1981), p.35-43; N. von Holst, Creators, collectors and connoisseurs (1967), p. 134-9; W. Hauser, Das Geschlecht derer von Althan [dissertation, Univy. Vienna] (1949), p.39, 108-28.
Studies of the hang of paintings include L. Syson, 'The ordering of the artificial world', in Enlightenment, ed. K. Sloan (2003); A. Scarpa-Sonino, Cabinet d'amateur: le grandi collezioni d'arte nei dipinti dal XVII al XIX secolo (1992); F. Russel, 'The hanging and display of pictures 1700-1850', in The fashioning and functioning of the British country house (1989), p.133-53; J. Cornforth, 'Patterns of picture hanging', in Country life, 169 (1981 June 4), p.1698-9.
Summary Note
The title on the German title-page reads, 'Prodromus, Oder, Vor-Licht Des eröffneten Schau und Wunder-Prachtes Aller deren An dem Kaiserl. Hof In Allerhochst Seiner Kaiserl. Konigl./ und Kathol. Majestat unsers glorwürdigst Regierenden Monarchens Carl des Sechsten ...'.
The work is an account of the collections of painting and sculpture in the 'Stallburg' in Vienna, showing them displayed in the sort of 'hang' then fashionable, with works of art closely covering each wall and picture-frames touching each other.
The plates consist of: a portrait of Charles VI (incorporated in the dedication-plate); the ground-plan of the gallery, with two portraits of the authors (first unnumbered plate); interior views of the rooms (second unnumbered plate); grouped paintings (plates 4-26); groups of sculpture (plates 27-30).
Provenance
[Copy 1]: Acquired by August 1802.
[Copy 2]: Inscribed on title-page: 'Bequest of P. Hoare 1836.' (Prince Hoare Bequest).
Binding Note
[Copy 2]: 18th-century marbled-papered boards; rebacked in 1996 by James Brockman, spine lettered 'Prodromus Stampart & Brenner'.
Paintings, European - History
Art galleries - Collections - Exhibiting - Object groupings and systems - Austria - Vienna - 18th century
Catalogues - Austria - 18th century
Pictorial works - Austria - 18th century