Prague's Nooks and Crannies in the Drawings of Rudolphian Masters

Around 1600, Pieter II. Stevens, Paulus van Vianen and Roelandt Savery created an extraordinary set of vedute during their stay in Prague. The Rudolphian vedute differ from earlier depictions of the same locality in that they contain mostly intimate city scenes. These works, as well as other Prague views by other Rudolphian artists, are the main subject of the bachelor thesis. I first discuss the artistic context that is a prerequisite for their proper understanding. Then I make an effort to assemble them in the most complete way to date and provide a topographical analysis of them. All this will ultimately enable me to evaluate the degree of uniqueness of the landscape art at the Rudolphian court, to differentiate the approach of each artist and to determine to what extent the Prague views are authentic. KEYWORDS drawing, veduta, topography, Rudolph II, Prague, Pieter II Stevens, Paulus van Vianen, Roelandt Saver