Automaton, so-called Cittern Player
2nd half 16th c.
A mechanism inside this figure of a girl makes her play the cittern, turn her head and trip along the table. In the 16th century, such androids represented man’s highly-prized ability to imitate Nature, herself the result of the divine act of creation. Such works were a speciality of Juanelo Torriano, the celebrated clockmaker of Emperor Charles V, wherefore this automaton also is attributed to him.
A mechanism inside this figure of a girl makes her play the cittern, turn her head and trip along the table. In the 16th century, such androids represented man’s highly-prized ability to imitate Nature, herself the result of the divine act of creation. Such works were a speciality of Juanelo Torriano, the celebrated clockmaker of Emperor Charles V, wherefore this automaton also is attributed to him.
Time:
2nd half 16th c.
Object Name
Automaton
Culture
Spanish (?)
Material/technology:
Painted wood, iron, linen, silk brocade
Dimensions:
H. 44 cm
Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Kunstkammer
Invs.
Kunstkammer, 10000