Sketch for the Trappings of an Elephant
by STRADA, Jacopo, Drawing
Jacopo Strada was an art dealer, architect, advisor of collectors, and himself a collector of coins and manuscripts. From 1558 he appeared on the payrolls of the imperial court in Vienna. In 1563 he was appointed imperial ‘antiquarius’ and he advised the emperor on acquisitions and in general seems to have overseen the imperial collections. His drawings included designs for costumes and horse trappings appropriate for festivals. One of the drawings contains a trappings of an elephant which was made for the tournament of 1571.