Strasbourg 1560-1600. The revival of the arts

At the end of the 16th century, Strasbourg was an eminent artistic center, whose activity owed much to its privileged geographical position at the heart of Europe. Little is known about this period of revival of the arts after the slump in activity that followed the Reformation, as much of the production either disappeared or was dispersed. The exhibition aims to explore this final season of the Renaissance, marked by the spread across all the arts of the new ornamental grammar inspired by the canons of antiquity, and its adoption by artists and craftsmen of all specialties. It also provides a more general context, covering literary production, educational and scientific dynamism, and publishing. The most significant contributions come from two leading artistic figures - draughtsmen, engravers and mural painters - who introduced the ornamental effects of Mannerism to Strasbourg: Tobias Stimmer (1539-1584), who designed the decorations for the cathedral's famous astronomical clock, and Wendel Dietterlin (1551-1599), who created the plates for the three volumes of Architectura.