Upstairs/Downstairs

Leipold, Frieder (2024): Upstairs/Downstairs. Castle kitchens as symbols of good government. Leuven: KU Leuven.

Abstract

Backstage at the Palace - a Visit to the Working Class in Early Modern Residences This study examines the architectural features of kitchens within grand residences such as castles and palaces. The temporal and geographical scope of analysis encompasses pre-modern Europe, with particular emphasis on the late sixteenth century within the Holy Roman Empire and its contiguous territories. The architectures found are examined to see to what extent they can be understood as a statement in cultural communication. Monumental kitchen structures are perceived as emblematic representations, symbolizing the benevolent governance exercised over their inhabitants. In addition to examples that are particularly impressive from the outside, there are also kitchens with impressive designs that can only be recognized from the inside. As an explanation, humanistic ideas are discussed, according to which good household management is a basic requirement for good rule in a state. As a result, what happened in the kitchen apparently became a staged expression of the education and organizational talent of a ruler. Some rulers were even actively engaged with and within kitchens. Finally, it is examined to what extent such connections can be found in specific, individual examples. Therefore the Kasteel van Heverlee in the Habsburg Low Countries and Weikersheim Castle, the main residence of an imperial count in southern Germany, are examined as case studies.

• Item Type: Monograph
• Faculties: History and Art History > Department of Art History > Art History
• Subjects: 700 Arts and recreation > 710 Landscaping and area planning
• Place of Publication: Leuven
• Annotation: zugleich: Dissertation an der KU Leuven, 2024
• Language: English