At the Court of the Alchemical King
It’s the same with many of my favorite foods (cheese, pickles, bread, beer). Involve your favorite ingredients (milk, grain, yeast, cucumber); oppress to a reasonable degree (heat, can, knead), and then leave ‘em to ferment a while.
Rudolph II as a young Emperor
It’s really not unlike the products that came from the court of Emperor Rudolph II. His reputed interest in the wonder of the world, coupled with his largesse, attracted a tremendous and diverse assortment of talent to his court in Prague (collage-artists like Arcimboldo, natural scientists like Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, makers of scientific instruments like Jost Burgi, writers of Latin poetry like Elizabeth Jane Weston, magicians like Edward Kelly and John Dee).
A 19th Century imagining of Rudolph II and Tycho Brahe contemplating the macrocosmos in Prague.
Apply a little pressure (wealth and prestige, either actual or in potential, or sometimes imperial fiat).
And then leave it all to ferment by having your attention drawn by some ridiculous political nonsense (continual threats to your empire, your rule and your sanity).
The results could be a little strongly flavored, a little quirky sometimes – but profuse, generally innovative, and always interesting.
I know, it’s a bit of a strained analogy I’m making, a bit of an incongruous metaphor. The thing is, though, Rudolph and his ilk loved metaphor – the more the better, actually. Metaphor is the way in which 17th century thinkers understood the world.
And then leave it all to ferment by having your attention drawn by some ridiculous political nonsense (continual threats to your empire, your rule and your sanity).
The results could be a little strongly flavored, a little quirky sometimes – but profuse, generally innovative, and always interesting.
I know, it’s a bit of a strained analogy I’m making, a bit of an incongruous metaphor. The thing is, though, Rudolph and his ilk loved metaphor – the more the better, actually. Metaphor is the way in which 17th century thinkers understood the world.
Arcimboldo, trying to get it right. Sketches of Rudolph II.