Seite - 572 - in Jacopo Strada and Cultural Patronage at the Imperial Court - The Antique as Innovation, Band 2

Chapter 11572 ‘small but choice’ collection of ancient medals. His ambition as a patron of the arts as indicated by his Prater Lusthaus, the Stallburg and the Neugebäude sug- gests that he would have been interested in documentation of the projects of other patrons, such as the documentary drawings of Raphael’s Vatican Loggia and Giulio Romano’s Palazzo del Te. Another fascinating passage in a letter by Strada explicitly states that Maximilian ii highly esteemed the exercise of the arts, in particular draughts- manship or design. The letter was written in November 1566 to Adam von Diet- richstein, one of Maximilian’s most trusted courtiers, whom he had appointed to oversee the education of his two eldest sons, Archdukes Rudolf and Ernest. When these were sent to Madrid in 1563 to receive part of their education at their uncle’s court, Dietrichstein was appointed to head their household, and doubled as Imperial ambassador in Spain [Figs. 11.33–11.35]. Strada wrote to thank him for having presented in his name a numismatic manuscript to Phil- ip ii and to ask him to further his attempt to obtain a benefice or pension from the king for one of his sons. The tone of the letter suggests that he had got to know Dietrichstein quite well. As an afterthought he continues: I don’t know if your lordship after his departure has continued the study [‘delettatio’] of medals, and of drawing [‘dissegno’]; for certainly it would be good not to abandon that, the more so because you made such a good start; and also their Serene Highnesses the princes, it would be well if they would be reminded of that practice [‘deletatione’]; for in truth, dear Sir, by drawing one obtains knowledge of an infinite number of things, and one’s judgment becomes much more excellent in all subjects, and it far surpasses that [obtained by] other studies, the more so when prac- ticed by a learned gentleman such as you are. Now if your lordship reas- sures me of that, I will always send you something by my hand to draw [‘ritrarre’ = to copy], begging you not to abandon a practice highly es- teemed by many ancient emperors, as well as by our present Emperor and patron.55 55 Doc. 1566-03-01: ‘Non so se Vostra Signoria Illustrissima doppo la Sua partita abbia contin- uato la delettatio dele medaglie, et il dissegno, che certo sarebe bene a non lo abandonare, e tanto più che avea un bonissimo principio; et anche le Maestà deli Serenissimi Principi, saria bene che tal deletatione li fosse raccordata, che invero, Signore, per il dissegno si viene in cognitione di infinite cose, et il giuditio è molto più eccelente in tutte le cose, e sopravanza tutti gli altri di gran longa; e tanto più quanto è in un Signore litterato come Lei. Ora Vostra Signoria me ne farrà certo, et io li manderò sempre qualche cosa di mia mano da rittrare, suplicandoLa a non voller abollire quello che molti imperadori antichi, et il nostro presente e padrone fa gran stima.’