Automaton, so-called Cittern Player
2nd half 16th c.
Automaton, so-called Cittern Player
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.
Object data
Object Name
Automaton
Culture
Spanish (?)
Dated
2nd half 16th c.
Material
Painted wood, iron, linen, silk brocade
Dimensions
H. 44 cm
Image rights
Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Kunstkammer
Inv. No.
Kunstkammer, 10000
Permalink (citable Link) to this page: www.khm.at/en/object/96017/
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