Page - 299 - in Jacopo Strada and Cultural Patronage at the Imperial Court - The Antique as Innovation, Volume 1

299Imperial Architect: Background immense Palazzina della Caccia at Stupinigi, built 1727–1731 for Vittorio Amedeo ii of Sa- voy, perhaps less so. 79 Georg Tanner, Brevis et dilucida Domini Do. Maximiliani inclyti regis Bohemiae et Archidu- cis Austriae etc. Viennae ad Danubii ripas et diaetae seu amoenarii ad Puteum Cervinum, et horti, et inprimis veteris quincuncis descriptio, Vienna, önb-hs, Cod. 8085; description and long excerpts in Chmel 1840–1841, 2, pp. 276–292; p. 284: ‘Unde cervi ad ipsam Diaetam usque prodeunt, et se ipsos telis, venabulis et Bombardiis quasi obiiciunt…’. The larger hunting-lodge at Augustusburg near Chemnitz, constructed 1568–1572 for Elector August of Saxony, demonstrates this function clearly: even today the forest comes up to walls of the castle, which was surrounded by a hanging gallery at roof level, allowing its owner and his guests not only to see, but possibly also to shoot the deer driven under the walls by beaters on the ground. 80 Tanner, Brevis et dilucida <…> diaetae descriptio, as cited in Chmel 1840–1841, 2, p. 283: ‘Quare cum hic locus Venationi tanquam Regiae voluptati, adeoque omnibus honestis- simorum exercitiorum bonae valetudini tuendae convenientissimorum generibus sit aptissimus, Romana Regia Maiestas animum gravissimis curia defessum ibi plerunque reficere, et sine interpellatoribus oblectare solet’. <…> from where the deer come down all the way to the very lodge, and almost obtrude themselves to <the huntsmen’s> nets, spears and bullets <…>. a passage which seems to prefigure Du Cerceau’s comment on La Muette cit- ed above.79 Earlier, Tanner had explained how this ‘Royal Forest’ was easily reached from town both on horseback and by boat, and continued: Because this place, dedicated to the hunt and the royal pleasure, likewise is most suitable for all convenient sorts of honest physical exercise that maintain good health, His Royal Roman Majesty [= Ferdinand i] often uses to come here to refresh his soul, fatigued by his heavy cares, and to recreate himself without undesired disturbance.80 The passage illustrates how the Lusthaus, representing an uncontroversial common interest, served as a bond between Maximilian and his widowed fa- ther, allowing him to express the respect and love he felt for him by offering his hospitality, and giving Ferdinand a chance to show his appreciation of his son’s project. It thus helped them to maintain some personal contact at a time when their conflict over Maximilian’s attitude in religious matters was deepening. But Maximilian himself also used it for private contemplation, at least that must be why its garden included a ‘iucundissimus Labyrinthus’ consisting of hedges of fragrant plants such as myrtle and laurel, in the midst of which could be found ‘tria amoenissima cubicula’, three most pleasant chambers construct- ed of hedges of evergreen shrubs, keeping out the sun, and therefore ‘perfectly