This book explores the automata of the Medici Villa Pratolino, focusing on the intersection of art, engineering, and philosophy in the late sixteenth century. The author examines how these ‘living sculptures’ went beyond traditional Renaissance static forms, blending mechanical innovation with artistic expression. Through a detailed analysis of the villa’s automata and Francesco de' Vieri's 1587 description of the site, the book highlights the philosophical and magical ideas that shaped these creations, reflecting the Medici family’s ambition to fuse science, art, and power. Providing a critical bridge between medieval and Renaissance anthropomorphic engineering, and the later mechanistic devices of the Reformation and Enlightenment, this book will appeal to scholars of Renaissance art, the history of technology, and the philosophy of science, offering new insights into the role of automata in Early Modern European culture.

eBook - ePub
Renaissance Automata of the Villa Pratolino
Magic, Mechanics, and Medici Ambition
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
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Table of contents
- Renaissance Automata of the Villa Pratolino
- Foreword
- Preface
- Contents
- List of Figures
- About the Author
- 1.Ā Vanished Wonders
- 2.Ā Atomism, Automata, and Experimental Science at the Medici Court
- 3.Ā āGod-Makingā in Magical Philosophy from Antiquity Through the Middle Ages
- 4.Ā Medieval Mechanical Marvels
- 5.Ā The Renaissance Rehabilitation of Theurgy and Its Material Culture
- Index1
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Yes, you can access Renaissance Automata of the Villa Pratolino by Lily V. Filson in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in History & History of Art. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.