Athanasius Kirchers „theatrum naturae artisque“ als idealer, synoptischer Blick auf ein Wissenstheater

Abstract

Starting from the fact that early modern catalogues of collections are often entitled ‚Theatrum’ or ‚Mus(a)eum’, this article aims at the analysis of both terms in order to sharpen the metaphor ‚Theatrum’ with regard to collections and at its exemplary historical localisation by Athanasius Kircher’s Kunstkammer in Rome. Regarding the perfomativity of various Theatrum-books, the first catalogue of this „theatrum naturae artisque“ is read as direction of an imagined visit, in the book’s own logic. The postulate of synoptical capture of knowledge was never achieved in the Theatrum literature. But on the frontispice of this catalogue it is almost reached by emphasis on central perspective while neglecting the depiction of single objects to some extent.