Wasser, Stein und Automaten

Abstract

The essay considers the grottoes of the Medici-Villa at Pratolino in regard to their historic relevance in the context of the artistic and typological development as well as their function related to the strategies of princely self-representation. Thereby it will focus less on the moments of mere imitation of the nature than rather on the imitation of the natural creating act itself. The innovative type of the grotto as basement for the grand villa merges the demand of the exclusive Gesamtkunstwerk with contemporary scientific, mechanical and geological cosmological ideas in a new and unique space of world knowledge. This feature as a site of technical experiment and junction of various scientific disciplines, that stylises the ruler as a godlike creator, will be considered in view of further coeval spaces of knowledge. Finally, even the ‘constructed destruction’ of the handmade parallel nature arises as a last act performed by the prince-demiurge.