Seite - 282 - in Jacopo Strada and Cultural Patronage at the Imperial Court - The Antique as Innovation, Band 1

Chapter 5282 57 Rosenthal 1985. The construction of the palace was continuing in the 1540s; though the day to day running doubtless was left to local authorities, such as the governor, Don Iñigo López de Mendoza, decisions on funding and controversial items of the designs were taken or at least confirmed at court. As representative of his uncle and father-in- law, Maximilian was formally responsible for such decisions, so he must have been given some basic information on what was after all Charles’ grandest commission. Is it a coinci- dence that in October 1548, very shortly after his arrival straight from Charles’ court, one of these controversial points, the design of the huge central Serliana of the upper floor of the south facade, was finally resolved, after six years of relative stagnation? (Rosenthal 1985, pp. 82 ff., ‘The South Window’). probably due to Pedro Machuca who was responsible for its construction until his death in 1550 [Fig. 5.36–5.37]. But though Maximilian did not see it with his own eyes, he must have heard about it and have obtained some idea of what it looked like. A set of the plans [Fig. 5.38] must have been available at court with the council charged with the supervision of its completion (the palace was never actually finished).57 In view of his active interest in the projects of civil engineering mentioned above, it is unlikely that he would not have informed himself about what was, after all, Charles v’s grandest architectural commis- sion. Its grandeur and purity cannot have failed to impress him. Figures 5.36–5.37 The Palace of Charles v at Granada, principal (west) facade and circular courtyard.