View of the Prague Castle District (Hradčany)

Precious stones have always played an important role in the representation of power. In the case of Rudolf II, a great passion for such stones was combined with the desire to use them in the portrayal of his imperial majesty. In the tradition of ancient Roman imperators, cameos were to preserve his image for posterity. Panels assembled from a variety of stones depict his capital of Prague or symbols of his rule.