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Authors: Paul Dowswell
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on the wall. Most had a disturbing eroticism about them – depictions of naked women, with flushed, lascivious faces. Rosy cheeks and rosy bottoms. One great canvas that immediately caught his eye showed the Last Judgement. On the left of the picture, scores of naked men and women rose up to the blue skies of heaven. On the right side, hordes of equally naked people were being corralled by demons with pitchforks and driven into burning pits. That wasn’t all they were doing to them either. Lukas blushed. Above it all, surrounded by a halo of sunlight, a beatific Jesus gazed down with benign indifference.
Lukas noticed a small gold timepiece resting on top of a pile of open books by a large windowsill. It would be easy to slip it into his robe. The temptation was huge, but Lukas resisted. That was the sort of thing Etienne would do.
A courtier appeared, and Anselmus and Lukas were ushered into another, larger room. This one was even more chaotic. Among the books and ornaments stood an impassive figure.
‘Your Excellency,’ said Anselmus in German, ‘may I introduce to you my apprentice, Master Lukas Declercq.’
Lukas shot to attention and, as instructed, bowed low and long. When he stood upright again, the Emperor was holding his gaze and gave a small, almost imperceptible nod of his head.
On his travels to Prague, Lukas had seen Rudolph’s likeness every day on coins. Now here he was, in the same room as the most famous man in the Empire.
Lukas was mesmerised. Draped over his shoulders Rudolph had a great fur and velvet cloak. Beneath he wore a finely embroidered tunic of a rich brown hue. His breeches were fashioned from the same material. Fine white silk stockings and buckled suede shoes completed his outfit.
His beard and hair were cropped short, in the Roman style. He had a great thrusting jaw and fleshy lips, which gave him the look of an obstinate bulldog. But what struck Lukas most were his eyes. There was a great sadness there, he thought.
Lukas was taller, he noticed, but the Emperor still presented a fine figure and strode with vigour towards an elaborate cabinet with many small drawers, each intricately decorated with mother-of-pearl motifs.
‘We have gemstones, just arrived from Asia Minor,’ the Emperor said to Anselmus. ‘Can you tell us of their worth? And we should like to know if these stones have healing properties.’
Anselmus examined the gems. ‘They are of exemplary quality, Your Excellency,’ he said, ‘especially the lapis lazuli. You might have noticed the rare intensity of the blue, comparable with the jewellery from the Pharaoh’s tomb which I acquired for the Cabinet last year. There are gold flecks in the rock, as one would expect, but no trace of calcite veins. Such material would have a marvellous restorative effect, Your Excellency. Lapis lazuli is especially renowned for its capacity to cure melancholy.’
The Emperor listened intently. ‘And how should these stones be made use of?’ he asked.
‘I would suggest that the largest piece be polished and then fashioned into a pendant to be worn close to the heart. It is said that the life force within the stone is effective in keeping the soul free from error, fear and envy. The smaller pieces should be mixed with honey and wine and ingested.’
Rudolph gave a gentle smile. ‘Then see to it, my dear Declercq. We leave it with you.’
Lukas was pleased to note that the Emperor did not have a haughtiness about him – such as he would have expected from the most powerful man in Europe. Instead he seemed to have a mighty, impenetrable detachment.
Anselmus then began to examine the Emperor, as he did on every visit. He checked his pulse, eyes, posture and skin for any signs of disorder. Then he asked for ‘the samples’ and Rudolph clapped his hands. Another courtier appeared with two containers. The first, a narrow-necked flask, contained a pale yellow liquid. Anselmus held it up to the light, swilled it around, then
Lukas noticed a small gold timepiece resting on top of a pile of open books by a large windowsill. It would be easy to slip it into his robe. The temptation was huge, but Lukas resisted. That was the sort of thing Etienne would do.
A courtier appeared, and Anselmus and Lukas were ushered into another, larger room. This one was even more chaotic. Among the books and ornaments stood an impassive figure.
‘Your Excellency,’ said Anselmus in German, ‘may I introduce to you my apprentice, Master Lukas Declercq.’
Lukas shot to attention and, as instructed, bowed low and long. When he stood upright again, the Emperor was holding his gaze and gave a small, almost imperceptible nod of his head.
On his travels to Prague, Lukas had seen Rudolph’s likeness every day on coins. Now here he was, in the same room as the most famous man in the Empire.
Lukas was mesmerised. Draped over his shoulders Rudolph had a great fur and velvet cloak. Beneath he wore a finely embroidered tunic of a rich brown hue. His breeches were fashioned from the same material. Fine white silk stockings and buckled suede shoes completed his outfit.
His beard and hair were cropped short, in the Roman style. He had a great thrusting jaw and fleshy lips, which gave him the look of an obstinate bulldog. But what struck Lukas most were his eyes. There was a great sadness there, he thought.
Lukas was taller, he noticed, but the Emperor still presented a fine figure and strode with vigour towards an elaborate cabinet with many small drawers, each intricately decorated with mother-of-pearl motifs.
‘We have gemstones, just arrived from Asia Minor,’ the Emperor said to Anselmus. ‘Can you tell us of their worth? And we should like to know if these stones have healing properties.’
Anselmus examined the gems. ‘They are of exemplary quality, Your Excellency,’ he said, ‘especially the lapis lazuli. You might have noticed the rare intensity of the blue, comparable with the jewellery from the Pharaoh’s tomb which I acquired for the Cabinet last year. There are gold flecks in the rock, as one would expect, but no trace of calcite veins. Such material would have a marvellous restorative effect, Your Excellency. Lapis lazuli is especially renowned for its capacity to cure melancholy.’
The Emperor listened intently. ‘And how should these stones be made use of?’ he asked.
‘I would suggest that the largest piece be polished and then fashioned into a pendant to be worn close to the heart. It is said that the life force within the stone is effective in keeping the soul free from error, fear and envy. The smaller pieces should be mixed with honey and wine and ingested.’
Rudolph gave a gentle smile. ‘Then see to it, my dear Declercq. We leave it with you.’
Lukas was pleased to note that the Emperor did not have a haughtiness about him – such as he would have expected from the most powerful man in Europe. Instead he seemed to have a mighty, impenetrable detachment.
Anselmus then began to examine the Emperor, as he did on every visit. He checked his pulse, eyes, posture and skin for any signs of disorder. Then he asked for ‘the samples’ and Rudolph clapped his hands. Another courtier appeared with two containers. The first, a narrow-necked flask, contained a pale yellow liquid. Anselmus held it up to the light, swilled it around, then
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