Wenzel Jamnitzer

Goldsmith and printmaker
Wenzel Jamnitzer was Mannerist artist, printmaker in etching, and the best known German goldsmith of his era who worked for a succession of Holy Roman Emperors.

Wenzel was born in Vienna to a goldsmith Hans Jamnitzer, who later moved with his family to Nurnberg. Where did Wenzel learned his trade in not known, although he was probably apprenticed to his father.

He ran a large and successful goldsmith’s shop in Nurnberg where he produced lavishly ornamented silver caskets, fountains, goblets, jewelry, mathematical and scientific instruments, and designs for prints and illustrated books, including his Perspectiva corporum regularium (The perspective of regular solids). The book is remembered for its engravings of polyhedral.

He is known for combining classical ornament with themes from nature - grass, flowers and small creatures in his work. About his reputation it is enough to say that he worked for the wealthiest Nurnberg citizens, highest nobility of the Holy Roman Empire and for four Holy Roman Emperors: Charles V, Ferdinand I, Maximilian II, and Rudolf II.

He was also active in city government as a member of the Great Council in 1556 and the Small Council in 1573. In 1552 Jamnitzer became master of the city mint.