The Czech Noble Herman Jakub Cernín de Chudenice and his Discovery of Art in Spain, 1681/1682

Abstract

The Czech noble Heřman Jakub Černín of Chudenice (1659-1710) was the eldest son of Count Humprecht Jan Černín de Chudenice (1628-1682), an important diplomat and politician at the Court of Emperor Leopold I. His journey throughout Spain (1681-1682) formed part of his European “grand tour” (1679-1682). Before setting off on this trip, Count Humprecht instructed his son to write a diary in the languages of the lands he visited. Thanks to satisfying his father’s wishes, Heřman Jakub became the author of an exceptional diary, which not only records his entire European itinerary, but is also an interesting linguistic document. The young Černín dedicated most of the space in his diary to describing his meetings with important figures, festivities and historical monuments. Although some erudition can be observed in his knowledge of art, he cannot be considered a specialist or an art expert. What most attracted his attention were works of art and architecture whose significance was already well known, and which he had heard about through his father, his tutor or occasionally through local guides and travel books. The whole of Černín’s Spanish journey was marked by his special interest in architecture. While he was able to recognise the value and quality of paintings and sculptures, he noted specific works and names of artists only sporadically in his diary.