German goldsmithing of the 16th century was shaped by the work of Wentzel Jamnitzer, who died in Nuremberg in 1585 and whose mastery rivaled that of his famous Italian predecessor, Benvenuto Cellini. During his lifetime, a cast of the lost silver saddle made for the coronation of Maximilian II and several lead casts of small pieces (goldsmith models) found their way to Basel. The approximately 55-year-old man holds a self-constructed calibration rod for determining the specific gravities of seven metals and a reduction compass, both tools used to calculate the material required for casting, for example, the ungilded silver statuette standing before him. Jamnitzer's specialty was exquisite silver bouquets of flowers cast from life, as depicted in the background. Our image is an exact replica of the portrait painted by the Dutchman Nicolas Neufchâtel on Jamnitzer's behalf, which Napoleon stole from Nuremberg's town hall and which is now in the Musée d'art et d'histoire in Geneva. (www.hmb.ch/museen/sammlungsobjekte/einzelansicht/s/bildnis-des-goldschmieds-wentzel-jamnitzer/)

German goldsmithing of the 16th century was shaped by the work of Wentzel Jamnitzer, who died in Nuremberg in 1585 and whose mastery rivaled that of his famous Italian predecessor, Benvenuto Cellini. During his lifetime, a cast of the lost silver saddle made for the coronation of Maximilian II and several lead casts of small pieces (goldsmith models) found their way to Basel. The approximately 55-year-old man holds a self-constructed calibration rod for determining the specific gravities of seven metals and a reduction compass, both tools used to calculate the material required for casting, for example, the ungilded silver statuette standing before him. Jamnitzer's specialty was exquisite silver bouquets of flowers cast from life, as depicted in the background. Our image is an exact replica of the portrait painted by the Dutchman Nicolas Neufchâtel on Jamnitzer's behalf, which Napoleon stole from Nuremberg's town hall and which is now in the Musée d'art et d'histoire in Geneva. (www.hmb.ch/museen/sammlungsobjekte/einzelansicht/s/bildnis-des-goldschmieds-wentzel-jamnitzer/)

German goldsmithing of the 16th century was shaped by the work of Wentzel Jamnitzer, who died in Nuremberg in 1585 and whose mastery rivaled that of his famous Italian predecessor, Benvenuto Cellini. During his lifetime, a cast of the lost silver saddle made for the coronation of Maximilian II and several lead casts of small pieces (goldsmith models) found their way to Basel. The approximately 55-year-old man holds a self-constructed calibration rod for determining the specific gravities of seven metals and a reduction compass, both tools used to calculate the material required for casting, for example, the ungilded silver statuette standing before him. Jamnitzer's specialty was exquisite silver bouquets of flowers cast from life, as depicted in the background. Our image is an exact replica of the portrait painted by the Dutchman Nicolas Neufchâtel on Jamnitzer's behalf, which Napoleon stole from Nuremberg's town hall and which is now in the Musée d'art et d'histoire in Geneva. (www.hmb.ch/museen/sammlungsobjekte/einzelansicht/s/bildnis-des-goldschmieds-wentzel-jamnitzer/)