Page - 242 - in Jacopo Strada and Cultural Patronage at the Imperial Court - The Antique as Innovation, Volume 1

Chapter 4242 On the other end of Strada’s courtly employment, in November 1579, stands the smaller festivity organized by some noblemen for the younger sons of Maximilian, Archdukes Maximilian and Albert. According to a letter by Sig- mundt von Hochenburg to Archduke Matthias, after a pleasant day of sport (running at the ring) the younger Archdukes and a select company of courtiers and ladies were offered an entertainment consisting of a banquet and a dance, and ‘ein schöne Mumerey’: a beautiful masque. Since this entertainment was organised in Strada’s house, he must have been involved in its organisation and he may have provided the costumes for the masque.97 4.4 Indirect Sources Throwing Light on Strada’s Employment at Court 4.4.1 The Letter to Archduke Ernest Though there are few documents that directly link Strada to specific commis- sions, a number of indirect sources help to draw at least a more general picture of his role in what might anachronistically be termed the cultural policy of the Imperial court. The principal of these is a summary of his tasks given by Strada himself in a letter to the Archduke Ernest, dating from 1579, when the Archduke was acting as Rudolf ii’s lieutenant in Austria.98 In this letter Strada explains the reasons why he had resigned his functions at court, and sued for the Arch- duke’s patronage, listing the various ways in which he had served Maximilian, and hoped to be of use to his son. It is worthwhile to transcribe it in extenso: Most Serene Prince! I have served twenty-five years here at court, and I have served three Emperors, the Majesties of the grandfather, the father and the brother of Your Highness. The reason why I have resigned [my functions] is that his Imperial Majesty does not employ me in his build- ing projects, and neither in having me prepare books of drawings <libri di dissegni> nor in other things, as did His Majesty your father, who made me work continuously. So I beseech your Most Serene Highness that, should he wish to em- ploy me in any project involving the art of design [‘l’arte del dissegno’], I can serve him very well; and should Your Highness choose to have built a beautiful palace in the manner of Rome or Naples, in a beautiful style and order of architecture; and providing it with beautiful gardens, fish- ponds, fountains and other delights suitable to a great prince such as 97 DOC. 1579-11-17, letter of Sigmundt von Hochenburg to Archduke Matthias. 98 DOC. 1579-05-00.