Hi Doug, Elizabeth et
al,
Yes, the James Fox
programme on the English Renaissance was interesting -
though not absolutely correct with its facts. When
describing Nicholas Kratzer's contribution to dialling, it
was actually misleading and tended to perpetuate the myth
that Kratzer introduced dialling to England (rather than
just popularising it).
Kratzer wasn't "brought to
Britain" by Henry VIII to look after his clocks. He came first
to work for Sir Thomas More, quite possibly after an
introduction by their common contact Erasmus. He then went to
work for Cardinal Wolsey at Oxford and then to Henry. Our
Nicholas was quick to smell the way that the political wind
was blowing and work his way up the tree!
Kratzer was not an
inventive dialler and his grasp of dialling (gained from
copying out manuscripts - already 'old' - in a Bavarian
monastery) was shaky. The late Peter Drinkwater (one of the
few proper diallists to study Kratzer's notebooks in the
Bodeian) was fairly dismissive of his abilities.
Fox's demonstration of the
operation of the Kratzer portable dial in the Oxford MHS using
a torch was also misleading - it made it look as though the
sloping edges of the gnomons were polar-oriented, which they
aren't.
The next episode in the
series will include a visit to Sir Thomas Tresham's famous
Triangular Lodge, with all its crazy Catholic symbolism. Look
out for the three sundials, the one on the north face with a
gnomon repositioned upside-down. [English Heritage, who look
after the building, were told many years ago but took no
notice.]
So, enjoy the
series by all means but remember the Royal Society's motto
of Nullius in
verba!
Regards,
John
-----------------------------------
I have just seen an excellent BBC programme called A Very
British Renaissance. The presenter, Dr James Fox, included
the painting by Holbein - The Ambassadors, and gave full
credit to Nicholas Kratzner with the presenter handling
Kratzner's personal polyhedral dial. He also conducted an
interview with one of our top dial makers, Joanna Migdal,
in her studio.
I gather not all will be able to see the BBC iPlayer, but
worth a try. Perhaps some clever member could extract the
relevant section of the programme.
Best wishes, Doug
---------------------------------------------------
https://lists.uni-koeln.de/mailman/listinfo/sundial
