• Producer(s):

    FILMICA PRODUCTION, ARTE FRANCE

  • Territories:

    Worldwide.

  • Production year:

    2018

  • Language(s):

    German, English, French

  • Rights:

    TV, DVD, NON-THEATRICAL, INTERNET, VOD

The cabinet of curiosities, a place of erudition and magic in the era when kings and princes were passionate about acquiring curious collections, has been back in vogue for some years. What is the reason for this worldwide craze?

From the secret theatrum mundi of the great princes of the North of Italy to the imperial munificence of the Habsburgs, from the antechambers of the Bavarian dukes to the palaces of the Saxon electors, from the astrologers and “esotericists” of the Prague court to the initiated naturalists, apothecaries and scientists, our journey takes us to the heart of a fantastic Europe.
The tale is truly fascinating!
First appearing during the Renaissance, cabinets of curiosity represented man’s place in the universe. A prince’s ability to govern was measured by the knowledge he showed in the areas of sciences and the arts. Indeed, of all the existing cabinets, including those of apothecaries, merchants, gentry or scientists, it is the cabinets of princes that best illustrate this vision of man confronted with nature.
In the cabinet of curiosities, where nature’s creative genius competed with that of mankind, the arena for this confrontation was art – which is at the heart of this documentary.
Selection for the historical documentary prize at the Rendez-vous de l'Histoire 2021