Calligraphic Specimen Book

Workshop of Jan Vermeyen, Calligraphic Specimen Book, c. 1600/5 binding. Leather, bloodstone, enamelled gold, garnets, 18.8 x 14 cm. Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, inv. no. KK 975

It is perhaps a little surprising to find a manuscript among the polished, glittering, curving, and otherwise highly-tactile contents of a Kunstkammer. One might perhaps wonder why it has been plucked from the library and placed instead with objects of visual pleasure. On the contrary, works of art – especially ones by artists as famous as Joris Hoefnagel – were conceived of as integral to the Kunstkammer (note 1). Furthermore, some of Hoefnagel's paintings were in fact inset into kunstkammer boxes at the court of Rudol II (note 2). A mere glance at this calligraphic modeling book can confirm that it is indeed a delight to the eyes, with its beautiful bloodstone binding. On the inside, its richly ornate texts function less vehicles of knowledge than as exquisite forms.

Notes:

note 1. For more on what a Kunstkammer should include, please refer to Gabriel Kaltemarckt's treatise "How a Kunstkammer Should be Formed."

note 2. Thea Vignau-Wilberg, "Joris Hoefnagels Tätigkeit in München," Jahrbuch der Kunsthistorischen Sammlungen in Wien 81 (1985): 103-167.