The Story of Süleyman. Celebrity Elephants and Other Exotica in Renaissance Portugal - Brossura

Annemarie Jordan Gschwend

Brossura

ISBN 10: 1616588217 ISBN 13: 9781616588212

Casa editrice: Pachyderm Productions, 2010

Riassunto

A Pachyderm Production, 2010. Soft cover. Book Condition: As New. 1st Edition. English text; Paperback; 20 x 25.5 cm; 0.377 Kg; 80 pages with 40 illustrations; In 1542, a small elephant was prodded onto a ship in Ceylon bound for Portugal, the beginning of a remarkable expedition. His epic ten-year journey was punctuated by a pirate attack off the coast of France, a trek across the Alps, and a celebrated river barge voyage. Everywhere he travelled, the pachyderm became an instant sensation, and his image was captured by contemporary artists in a surprisingly complete pictorial history. Later dubbed Süleyman, this celebrity elephant was the prized pet of a succession of royal owners: Catherine of Austria, Prince Carlos of Spain, and finally Emperor Maximilian II of Austria. "The Story of Süleyman tells this fascinating tale, providing a glimpse into the daily lives of Renaissance royals in the 1500s. It explores their insatiable appetite for imported animals and merchandise, the role their exotic pets played as beloved companions, the robust commercial market that emerged to support their extravagance, and the symbolic significance of their opulent collections. The story comes to life with images (several never before published) by such early Renaissance luminaries as Albrecht Dürer, Giuseppe Arcimboldo, Anthonis Mor, and Giulio Romano, and includes a detailed bibliography, image credits, and a simplified genealogy. "For many years, I have lived a fascinating double life," says author and historian Annemarie Jordan Gschwend, "with one foot rooted in the 20th and 21st centuries and one foot resting on Habsburg imperial soil. I have travelled into the past, befriended members of the extended Habsburg clan and their courts, bridged the 500 years that separate us and entered the realm of their complicated lives. I am delighted to share my work with a wider audience through the publication of this volume.".

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Pachyderm Productions
• Data di pubblicazione: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1616588217
• ISBN 13: 9781616588212
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile