L’expérience de la nature. Les arts à Prague à la cour de Rodolphe II / Arts in Prague at the Court of Rudolf II

This beautifully produced catalog accompanies the Louvre’s spring 2025 exhibition dedicated to the fascinating fusion of art and science at the court of Emperor Rudolf II in Prague. A passionate collector of natural wonders, scientific instruments, and artistic marvels, Rudolf II turned his court into a true laboratory of the senses at the turn of the 17th century.

The book explores how the emperor’s curiosity, ranging from astronomy to alchemy, botany to painting, shaped a distinct visual culture. More than 100 featured objects and artworks reveal a unique aesthetic where observation, symbolism, and scientific inquiry are intertwined. From detailed botanical illustrations and anatomical studies to mysterious sculptures and fantastical depictions of nature, this was art in the service of wonder and knowledge alike.

With essays by leading scholars and richly detailed imagery, this catalog is not only a companion to the exhibition, but a journey into one of history’s most intellectually adventurous and artistically inventive courts.