Description

Immediate dispatch from Somerset. Book in excellent unread/unused condition. See images. Fantastic book.

About the book >.>.> It is well known that the Albertina owes its existence to the connoisseurship and zeal of a single individual. The most sig nificant acquisitions were made by our founder and namesake Prince Albert of Saxony Duke of Teschen (1738-1822). In many cases the later additions to his exquisite collection-which num ir bered 14000 drawings and 200000 old master prints at the time of his death-served only to fill in certain gaps or to round off the sholdings. Duke Albert the offspring of one of Europe’s most aris tocratic ruling families married Marie Christine the favorite d daughter of Maria Theresia of Austria in 1766. He was of the firm belief that statesmanship not only required a thorough under include a broad range of learning and every and all form of rep resentation. Since the Renaissance patronizing the arts and col lecting the most extraordinary examples of artistic creativity has belonged to the precepts of princely conduct. The Enlightenment if added an educational focus to such a collection: it should be n made available to the interested connoisseur for the purpose of d presenting him with a systematic picture of the cultural achieve s ments of past centuries. (OS)