The beginnings of the technique of artificial marble and its implementation in the Czech Lands
Vol.74,No.2(2025)
Abstract
Keywords:
artificial marble; scagliola; gypsum; material imitation; technical art history; marble workers; Blasius Pfeiffer; Guido Fassi; Anselm de Boodt; Giovanni Battista Carlone; Andrea Solari
Pages:
92–107
The article discusses the origin of the artificial marble technique and the circumstances of its dissemination in the Czech Lands. The technique originated in Bavaria in the late 16th century and, after a certain time, also appeared in northern Italy. During the first half of the 17th century, its dissemination was very limited due to production secrecy. In the Czech Lands, this technique is documented at the Rudolphine court, but only in written sources. The first monumental preserved constructions in this country date to the 1690s. The reason for the discontinuity in the use of impressive imitations using artificial marble, in addition to the secrecy of the technique (and therefore the low awareness among customers and craftsmen), is probably the fact that there is only a very limited amount of the basic raw material – gypsum – in our territory.
artificial marble; scagliola; gypsum; material imitation; technical art history; marble workers; Blasius Pfeiffer; Guido Fassi; Anselm de Boodt; Giovanni Battista Carlone; Andrea Solari
92–107
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