Archduke Ferdinand II of Austria: A Second-Born Son in Renaissance Europe

The book examines the cultural patronage of Archduke Ferdinand II of Austria (1529-1595), a son of Emperor Ferdinand I. Being the second-born, the Archduke never reached the imperial throne but served as the Governor of Bohemia in Prague and then he reigned in the Tyrol. The volume aims to show how Ferdinand II’s unclear dynastic position was significant in determining his fate, and which strategies he used to represent himself as an important member of the Habsburg dynasty. Twenty-three essays organized in five sections cover his main cultural aims, starting with the structure of his court and its entertainment, architectural projects, visual arts, and the interests of the humanistic circle he gathered around him. The book also presents new information about his famous collection of art and curiosities at Ambras Castle in Innsbruck, which served as a model for Emperor Rudolf II’s collecting practice. The interdisciplinary cooperation of scholars from different countries gives readers a unique and comprehensive understanding of the actions of the Archduke in mutual relations. The book portrays the Archduke as a skilled manager, creative inventor and successful networker as the Renaissance movement was developing in Central Europe in the second half of the sixteenth century. Although the Archduke couldn’t fulfil his political ambitions, through his support for collecting, art and science, he contributed significantly to the development of the regions where he resided and connected them with the cultural achievements of Western and Southern Europe. As a whole, the book offers a detailed analysis of the lifestyle of the “model prince in this era.