Wenzel Jamnitzer
Encyclopedia
Wenzel Jamnitzer (1507/1508, Vienna – December 19, 1585) was a Northern Mannerist goldsmith
, artist, and printmaker in etching
, who worked in Nuremberg
. He was the best known German goldsmith of his era, and court goldsmith to a succession of Holy Roman Emperors.
A native of Vienna
, Jamnitzer was a member of a Moravian German family which, for more than 160 years, had produced works under the names Jamnitzer, Jemniczer, Gemniczer, and Jamitzer. Wenzel, with his brother Albrecht, was trained by his father Hans the Elder.
Jamnitzer worked as a court goldsmith for all the German emperors of his era, including Charles V
, Ferdinand I
, Maximilian II
, and Rudolf II
. Also, he probably invented an embossing
machine.
In 1534, Jamnitzer settled in Nuremberg. He made vase
s and jewelry boxes with great skill, in a style based on that of the Italian Renaissance
. Besides precious metals, he incorporated hardstone
s, shells, coral
s, and small birds' eggs
in his works.
In 1543 he was appointed as a coin and seal die-cutter by the city of Nuremberg. In 1552, he became master of the city mint.
Jamnitzer performed scientific studies to improve the technical knowledge of his guild. In 1568 he published Perspectiva Corporum Regularium (Perspective of regular solids), a book remembered for its engravings of polyhedra. This book was based on Plato's Timaeus
and Euclid
's Elements
, and it contained 120 forms based on the Platonic solid
s.
From 1573, Jamnitzer represented the Goldsmiths on the Nuremberg city council. From 1571 to 1576, he worked with Johan Gregor van der Schardt
, a sculptor.
His son Hans Jamnitzer (1539–1603) and grandson Christof Jamnitzer (1563–1618) continued his business.
Wenzel Jamnitzer died on December 19, 1585 and was buried in St. John's Cemetery in Nuremberg (grave No. 664). His grave is decorated in bronze and has an epitaph by Jost Amman
, an artist known for his woodcuts.
Examples of his work can be seen in Vienna, the Louvre
, and the Victoria and Albert Museum
in London, and elsewhere. Many of his works were probably melted down during the Thirty Years' War
.
Goldsmith
A goldsmith is a metalworker who specializes in working with gold and other precious metals. Since ancient times the techniques of a goldsmith have evolved very little in order to produce items of jewelry of quality standards. In modern times actual goldsmiths are rare...
, artist, and printmaker in etching
Etching
Etching is the process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio in the metal...
, who worked in Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
. He was the best known German goldsmith of his era, and court goldsmith to a succession of Holy Roman Emperors.
A native of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Jamnitzer was a member of a Moravian German family which, for more than 160 years, had produced works under the names Jamnitzer, Jemniczer, Gemniczer, and Jamitzer. Wenzel, with his brother Albrecht, was trained by his father Hans the Elder.
Jamnitzer worked as a court goldsmith for all the German emperors of his era, including Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
, Ferdinand I
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest...
, Maximilian II
Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
Maximilian II was king of Bohemia and king of the Romans from 1562, king of Hungary and Croatia from 1563, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation from 1564 until his death...
, and Rudolf II
Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor
Rudolf II was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Hungary and Croatia , King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria...
. Also, he probably invented an embossing
Embossing
Embossing is the process of creating a three-dimensional image or design in paper and other materials.-Techniques:Embossing is typically accomplished by applying heat and pressure with male and female dies, usually made of copper or brass, that fit together and squeeze the fibers of the substrate...
machine.
In 1534, Jamnitzer settled in Nuremberg. He made vase
Vase
The vase is an open container, often used to hold cut flowers. It can be made from a number of materials including ceramics and glass. The vase is often decorated and thus used to extend the beauty of its contents....
s and jewelry boxes with great skill, in a style based on that of the Italian Renaissance
Italian Renaissance
The Italian Renaissance began the opening phase of the Renaissance, a period of great cultural change and achievement in Europe that spanned the period from the end of the 13th century to about 1600, marking the transition between Medieval and Early Modern Europe...
. Besides precious metals, he incorporated hardstone
Hardstone
Hardstone is a Kenyan musician. His music is a mixture of ragga, reggae and hiphop. He sings in English, Swahili and Kikuyu languages...
s, shells, coral
Coral
Corals are marine animals in class Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps". The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.A coral "head" is a colony of...
s, and small birds' eggs
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
in his works.
In 1543 he was appointed as a coin and seal die-cutter by the city of Nuremberg. In 1552, he became master of the city mint.
Jamnitzer performed scientific studies to improve the technical knowledge of his guild. In 1568 he published Perspectiva Corporum Regularium (Perspective of regular solids), a book remembered for its engravings of polyhedra. This book was based on Plato's Timaeus
Timaeus (dialogue)
Timaeus is one of Plato's dialogues, mostly in the form of a long monologue given by the title character, written circa 360 BC. The work puts forward speculation on the nature of the physical world and human beings. It is followed by the dialogue Critias.Speakers of the dialogue are Socrates,...
and Euclid
Euclid
Euclid , fl. 300 BC, also known as Euclid of Alexandria, was a Greek mathematician, often referred to as the "Father of Geometry". He was active in Alexandria during the reign of Ptolemy I...
's Elements
Euclid's Elements
Euclid's Elements is a mathematical and geometric treatise consisting of 13 books written by the Greek mathematician Euclid in Alexandria c. 300 BC. It is a collection of definitions, postulates , propositions , and mathematical proofs of the propositions...
, and it contained 120 forms based on the Platonic solid
Platonic solid
In geometry, a Platonic solid is a convex polyhedron that is regular, in the sense of a regular polygon. Specifically, the faces of a Platonic solid are congruent regular polygons, with the same number of faces meeting at each vertex; thus, all its edges are congruent, as are its vertices and...
s.
From 1573, Jamnitzer represented the Goldsmiths on the Nuremberg city council. From 1571 to 1576, he worked with Johan Gregor van der Schardt
Johan Gregor van der Schardt
Johan Gregor van der Schardt was a sculptor from the Northern Renaissance.-External links:*...
, a sculptor.
His son Hans Jamnitzer (1539–1603) and grandson Christof Jamnitzer (1563–1618) continued his business.
Wenzel Jamnitzer died on December 19, 1585 and was buried in St. John's Cemetery in Nuremberg (grave No. 664). His grave is decorated in bronze and has an epitaph by Jost Amman
Jost Amman
Jost Amman was a Swiss artist, celebrated chiefly for his woodcuts, done mainly for book illustrations....
, an artist known for his woodcuts.
Examples of his work can be seen in Vienna, the Louvre
Louvre
The Musée du Louvre – in English, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre – is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement...
, and the Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
in London, and elsewhere. Many of his works were probably melted down during the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
.
External links
- Mathematik und Kunst: Bilder von Wentzel Jamnitzer aus der Perspectiva Corporum Regularium
- Das Jamnitzerhaus in Nürnberg und der Goldschmied Wenzel Jamnitzer, Erich Mulzer in MVGN, Band 61 (1974), Online-Version