From court Jews to the Rothschilds
Subtitle: art, patronage, and power : 1600-1800
By: edited by Vivian B. Mann and Richard I. Cohen ; with essays by Fritz Backhaus ... [et al.].
Contributors: Mann, Vivian B.; Cohen, Richard I.; Backhaus, Fritz.; Jewish Museum (New York, N.Y.)
Publisher: Prestel; Brand: Prestel Pub; Prestel Pub
Published: 1996
Place of publication: Munich; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 251
Subjects: Rothschild family.; Court Jews -- Germany -- History.; Jews -- Germany -- History -- 1096-1800.; Art patronage -- Germany.; Jewish art and symbolism -- Exhibitions.; Jews -- Germany -- Portraits -- Exhibitions.
Description: From Court Jews to the Rothschilds 1600-1800 is a groundbreaking study that examines the role of Jews as agents in the service of many kinds of patrons, from local nobles to emperors. In addition to collecting and commissioning precious jewelry and works of art for the court, they provided all manner of goods, including military equipment and supplies. Many Jews also made important contributions to architecture by financing and implementing large building projects.

Some maintained the ruler's mint, collected taxes, and assisted in diplomatic negotiations. Court Jews often became extremely wealthy and powerful members of society, some of them adopting the lifestyles, dress, and even architecture of their patrons, while remaining true to their religious origins. In many cases they were generous benefactors of their own communities, establishing schools and synagogues, printing books, commissioning ceremonial objects, and acting as patrons of the arts.

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This book is illustrated with stunning photographs of objects commissioned by and associated with Court Jews from collections all over Europe, America and Israel. It charts the development of the Court Jew phenomenon from early Islamic times through to the early 1800s, with particular emphasis on the 17th and 18th centuries.

It includes short biographies of outstanding figures - among them several women, such as Gluckl of Hameln and Esther Liebmann - with an account of their achievements and of their relationship to Jewish communities and to general society. This is the first book to discuss the cultural transformation of Court Jews in the context of Baroque art and architecture, and the first to illustrate such a diverse representative selection of works.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 248-249) and index.
"This book has been published in conjunction with the exhibition From Court Jews to the Rothschilds: Art, Patronage, and Power, 1600-1800, held at the Jewish Museum, New York, 8 September 1996-17 January 1997"--T.p. verso.
Table of contents: title: Court Jews before the Hofjuden / Yosef Kaplan; title: Court Jews in economics and politics / Michael Graetz; title: Riches and dangers : Glickl bas Judah Leib on court Jews / Natalie Zemon Davis; title: The case of Alexander David of Braunschweig / Ralf Busch; title: The despised queen of Berlin Jewry, or, the life and times of Esther Liebmann / Deborah Hertz; title: The last of the court Jews : Mayer Amschel Rothschild and his sons / Fritz Backhaus; title: Melding worlds : court Jews and the arts of the baroque / Richard I. Cohen and Vivian B. Mann.