Who painted Print Collection?

Print Collection was painted by Mat'a in 1617.

Where can I see Print Collection?

Print Collection is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Print Collection?

Print Collection is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Print Collection

Mat'a , 1617

Print Collection is a print by the Baroque artist Mat'a. It dates from 1617 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

The print is titled "Print Collection" and was made by Mat'a in 1617.
It's an allegory, which is a way of telling a story through symbols.
The print shows a court dance at Prague Castle, inspired by Italian musical theatre, and this dance was performed for the emperor.
You can learn more about this style by looking into the Baroque movement.

Overview

This 1617 print, titled “Print Collection” and attributed to the artist Mat’a, records a ceremonial court dance known as the Phasma Dionysiacum Pragense. The scene unfolds within the walls of Prague Castle, where noble participants performed the spectacle before the emperor.

Subject & Meaning

The work functions as an allegory, using the dance to evoke themes drawn from classical Dionysian festivities. By staging the performance for the imperial audience, the print underscores the political and cultural prestige of the Habsburg court.

Technique & Style

Executed as a print, the image employs the linear clarity and compositional balance typical of early seventeenth‑century graphic art. Its decorative elements echo the theatrical conventions of contemporary Italian musical theatre, reflecting a cross‑regional exchange of artistic ideas.

Context

The dance took place in 1617, a period when the Baroque aesthetic began to influence Central European courts. Italian opera and ballet were increasingly imported, shaping local court entertainments and signaling the Habsburgs’ alignment with broader European cultural trends.

History & Provenance

The print originates from the original court archives of Prague Castle, where it likely served as a record of the event. Its survival in the Print Collection suggests it was preserved as part of the imperial documentation of ceremonial occasions.