Life & Works of Martin Altman, Engineer to the Hapsburgs

Víctor Pérez Álvarez

While looking for sources for my PhD the- er, reports Altman to the Inquisition board for ent military inventions, including toxic smoke sis on history of Spanish horology, in 2011, I Lutheran and terminates on June after being bombs, a diving suit to recover objects from come across various inquisition trials against absolved and his goods returned to him. The shipwrecks and a method to repair damaged clockmakers from the 16th to the 18th centu- second trial starts in October 1568, when the vessels in the middle of battles. The impor- ries in the Archivo Histórico Nacional of Ma- clockmaker Juan de Evalo reports Altman for tance of the Spanish navy for Philip II to keep drid. One against Martin Altman dating from breaking fasting in Lent and before receiving his maritime empire under control might have 1560 to 1574 seemed particularly interesting communion. Once again, the board cannot made Altman consider his proposals relevant as he served King Philip II of Spain. After demonstrate these accusations but terminates for the king. consulting bibliography on history of science the trial in August 1569 after sentencing him There are other documents regarding his ac- and technology in Renaissance Spain only to pay a huge fine, to be confined in a monas- tivity as and watchmaker, including brief mentions to Martín Altman were found tery for six months and to four years banish- trading contracts about buying and selling in a Nicolás García Tapia’s monograph1 and ment from the Royal Court, now permanently . Probably the most interesting source in David Goodman’s Power and Penury2, established in Madrid. Just before Altman’s for understanding his horological business is neither of them mentioning the Inquisition banishment, a report against two witnesses the sale of his workshop at the Plaza Mayor of trial. Some monographs about the introduc- who declared against him in his second trial, Madrid in 1591, which includes an inventory tion of Lutheranism in Spain do mention the triggers his third trial. Fortunately for Altman of tools, new clocks made by him and others trial, but without studying the professional it terminates in October 1571 without any to be repaired for their owners. This inven- side of Martin Altman.3 The trial is an invalu- consequence for him and shows his efforts to tory together with the letters of his customers able source of very detailed information about hide other Lutherans from the Spanish Inqui- claiming their clocks and to the In- the life, the customers and the social network sition. quisition board when he was arrested in 1560, of Altman and other makers from the Span- The trials are a mine of information about dif- contain invaluable information about his cus- ish Royal Court of that period. I decided not ferent aspects of Altman’s life and the horo- tomers and their horological tastes. to include this information in my PhD thesis logical trade in Madrid in the second half of because it fell outside its chronological scope Altman left other documents concerning the the 16th century. Following his first detention and because Altman deserves to be studied different activities he carried out in his life in in 1560, the Inquisition board received let- on its own. Since then I have gathered differ- Spain. The Archivo de Protocolos de Madrid, ters from Altman’s customers describing and ent sources from other archives to carry out for example, keeps a huge collection of notar- claiming back the clocks and watches they a research project after finishing this thesis. ial records from that period including the sale left in his workshop for servicing. The decla- By 2017, when I took up again the Altman’s of this workshop, the translation into Spanish rations of the witnesses and other documents research, this person has attracted the atten- of his nobility privilege given by the Emperor from the trials draw a detailed picture of Alt- tion of other historians, including M. Vázquez Ferdinand and different agreements about man’s social network in Madrid and Toledo Manassero, who discovered a charter of nobil- loans he needed to take out after the challenge allowing us to know the names of his friends, ity issued to him by the Emperor Ferdinand II. of the Inquisition. neighbours, apprentices and customers and Vázquez also cites another ongoing research how his relationship was with many of them. These are the main but not the only known project that connects Altman with Cardinal sources about Altman, and others will be used Granvelle.4 Altman exiled in Seville between 1571 and and mentioned in this article. In addition, 1574 to serve the sentence of his second In- The aim of this article is to summarise the new sources could be discovered in the future quisition trial, where he continued working known available sources to study the person which could shed more light on Altman as as clockmaker and engineer. After his exile of Martin Altman, to trace the different places other research works in progress previously he returned to the Royal Court in Madrid and he lived and to offer an overview of the dif- mentioned will. litigated with Bartolome de Granara, a Geno- ferent works he did during his life. My inten- vese living in Spain, for payment of a loan. tion is not to exhaust the research possibilities Life and Itinerary The new trial started in 1576 before the Cor- about Altman, but to offer a starting point for In this section we are going to study his life, regidor of Madrid, the local judicial author- future research. the different places he lived in and how he ity, but was escalated to the Real Chancillería 6 started serving the Habsburgs (Table 1). We The Sources of Valladolid, whose archive keeps the trial. know very few facts about Altman’s early life Among the available sources to study the life It includes testimonies of people who knew mostly thanks to the Inquisition records. From and work of Martin Altman, the Inquisition Altman and that have witnessed against him the different refences he made to his own age trial against him is the richest in details. The before the Inquisition board in the 1560s, in- his birthdate can be established to be in or c. Spanish Inquisitorial Justice was administered cluding again Juan de Evalo. The Chancilleria 1530.7 Three different documents mention his by different territorial boards, whose records trial provides more information on the objects birthplace. According to the Spanish transla- were almost completely destroyed after the he traded with and on his delicate financial tion of his nobility privilege he was born in abolition of the Inquisition in the 19th century. situation after overcoming the Inquisition. Schweidnitz.8 When in his first Inquisition tri- By fortune, the Toledo board archives, which Both trials are the richest available sources to al in 1560 is asked about his origin and family jurisdiction includes Madrid and contains Alt- study Altman’s life and social network. But, he replies to be born in ‘Brozsla’ in Bohemia9, man’s trial, are an exception that confirms in addition to them, other documents help to but in his second trial of 1568 he states to be the rule and are kept at the Archivo Historico know better aspects of his life as an engineer, from ‘Gelis Singa’, ‘near to Bohemia’, land Nacional of Spain. Actually, it is not one, but for example his reports to the king about his of the Emperor.10 The former seems a poor three trials, all kept in the same bundle under inventions and to claim money owed to him transcription of Breslau, the later must be the same shelf mark.5 The first one starts in by the Crown. For example, in one of these re- ‘Schläsing’ or ‘Silesia’, a region pertaining to April 1560 when Fabian, sword-guards mak- ports Altman offers to the king Philip II differ- the crown of Bohemia that was integrated in

Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society No. 147 (2020) 11 and other metal goods.22 The city attracted Table 1. Martin Altman's itinerary artisans from other Imperial territories. Augs- burg was also a major political decision-mak- Dates Places ing centre of the Empire, where some of the 1530 Is Born in Silesia. most influential Imperial Diets took place, including those of 1530, 1547 and 1555. On 1546 or 1547 for half year Moved to Breslau, at merchant ‘Hanz Queldrel's’ home. the occasions of the Diets, the physical pres- ence of the Imperial and other attendants’ c. 1547 for half year Leipzig. courts, allowed the craftsmen and dealers to do business with wealthy noblemen and to 1547 or 1548, for half year . take commissions from them. Some craftsmen enrolled in their courts and left with 1548 - 1551 and . them after the Diet23, including Altman, as he 24 25 1551 - 1555 Augsburg, where he learned horology and engineering. himself states in 1589 and 1592. The 1555 Diet met in Augsburg to sign a peace treaty 1555 Starts serving Charles V. that terminated the religious wars of Charles V against the Lutherans. Charles was in Brus- 1555-1559 Flanders, , England. Starts serving Philip II of sels and did not attend the Diet in person, but Spain. his brother Ferdinand represented him.26 1559/1560 Moves to Toledo with the Royals Court of Philip II (Spain). According to Altman’s statement before the Inquisition in 1568, Charles V ordered him February to July 1560 First Inquisition trial. to join the Imperial Court in Brussels and to move with them to Spain. The Charles V trip 1561 Likely moves to Madrid with the Royal Court. to Spain was delayed due to the lack of funds 1562 Receives a nobility Privilege from Emperor Ferdinand. and Altman spent four years in Brussels be- tween 1555 and 1559, where he opened his 1563 Serves Philip II at the Monzon Courts. own workshop, probably his first one. During that period, he travelled to England as well, Nov. 1568 to April 1570 Second Inquisition trial. but he doesn’t mention exactly when, or for how long and for what purpose. Charles’ Oct. 1569 to Oct. 1571 Third Inquisition trial. son, Philip II of Spain, was king consort of England between 1554 and 1558, the period 1570 - 1574 Exile in Seville. he was married to Mary Tudor. King Philip 1591 Sells his workshop in Madrid to leave the Spanish Court. visited his wife very few times and for very short periods. Altman probably accompanied 1592 Italy: , and probably Venice. him during his three months visit to the Queen in England from Brussels in 1557.27 the Imperial possessions after the Mohács bat- of his life. Although he probably started learn- Philip II moved to Spain in 1559 bringing 13 tle in 1526. Both Breslau and Schweidnitz are ing horology in his father’s workshop , in with him servants, craftsmen, engineers and Silesian cities. In addition, Altman declares Augsburg he was apprentice to Simon Frie- artists from the Low Countries and other 14 that his grandfather, named Alte Paule, was derich, master clockmaker , ‘whose name parts of Europe, including Altman. The Royal governor of ‘Petrisvalde’, now Peterswaldau -says Altman- he remembers better than his Court settled in Toledo until 1561 when the 15 near to Schweidnitz, and two of his sons, Alte father’s’. The regulations of the Augsburg king ordered the move to Madrid for good. Paule and Simon Alte, both uncles of Martin, Clockmakers guild established an appren- Altman, who lived in Spain for more than were priest and sacristan at this place. About tice period of three years, then the apprentice three decades, moved with the court to To- 16 his father we only know his name, ‘Niculas could leave his master’s home. Although the ledo28, where he was arrested by the Inquisi- 11 Altman’ and that he was clockmaker as well. regulations came into force a few years later, tion for the first time in 1560. He had arrived Altman could spend three years with Simon In his statement before the Inquisitors on about one year before, did not speak Spanish Frederique before moving to Tomas Geiger’s 23rd December 1568 he mentions the differ- at that time and required assistance to testify house17, master maker of ‘big clocks’ and ent places where he had lived before being to the Inquisition board. He probably moved spit jacks.18 Georg Gutterman, a member of a arrested in Toledo for the first time. Accord- to Madrid in 1561 when following the court prominent family of Augsburg clockmakers19, ing to this, he left his father’s home in 1546, and by 1568 he had established his house and lived with Altman also in Thomas Geiger’s 29 aged 16, for Breslau where he lived with the workshop at the Plaza Mayor , where it re- house. They should know each other very well 30 merchant ‘Hanz Queldrel’. Then he moved mained until he sold it in 1591. As far as we because they both moved to Spain together, to Leipzig, Frankfurt, Mainz, Strasbourg and know from the known sources, Altman was lived in the same house for a short period20 finally to Augsburg, where he lived between away from Madrid during his second and third and were arrested and accused of Lutheran- 1551 and 1555. Before arriving in Augsburg, Inquisition trials, when he was moved to Tole- ism by the Spanish Inquisition in two different Altman fought in the Schmalkaldik wars with do, and then during his banishment in Seville trials.21 Charles V against the Lutherans commanded between 1571 and 1574 approximately. He by the Duke of Saxony. In 1592 Altman con- From the 1550s and during the rest of the 16th also left Madrid on other occasions to serve firms his participation in the war12, which century, Augsburg was the leading centre of the king during his trips, but he was based started in 1546, the same year he left Breslau. clockmaking in Europe and a major produc- there. During his period in Madrid he made, tion centre of scientific instruments, armour serviced and sold clocks to different custom- In Augsburg he spent the most decisive years

12 Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society No. 147 (2020) ers, took care of the Royal horological col- ing to Biringuccio, Samuel Zimmermann, a notebooks but we will never know. lection, made fireworks for celebrations and fireworks maker form Augsburg and author of trained different apprentices in his workshop. a treatise on the subject in 1573, made sulphur The Clockmaker bombs that resolved themselves into smoke.37 Martín Altman worked as engineer but earned But after his return from Seville, things his living as, and considered himself to be, started to worsen for Altman. His hand was In his 1589 letter, in addition to these projec- a clockmaker. For example, in one letter to severely injured as a consequence of a harsh tiles, he claimed to have invented a diving Philip II asking him to be paid the arrears of 31 torture session by the Inquisition and, al- suit to repair vessels from the outside and to his salary, he explains again that his delicate 38 though in later documents he doesn’t mention recover valuables from shipwrecks. He pre- financial situation would force him to stop any health issue, his hand likely suffered long sented some of these inventions to Philip II making fireworks to focus on his profession: 39 term physical damage. His arrest also wors- in 1589 and wanted to present them to the clockmaking.44 ened his economic situation and he applied Duke of Venice in 1592 after leaving Spain.40 for permission to the Inquisition board to The objects contained in his workshops in the During his banishment in Seville, Martin Alt- spend a few weeks in Madrid before his ban- different cities in which he lived suggest that man appears briefly in Jerez de la Frontera, ishment to collect debts, the King being one clockmaking was his main occupation and a small city situated about ninety kilome- of his debtors. By 1592 Philip II owed him probably more profitable than engineering. I tres south of Seville. The river port was the about three thousand ducats, a huge amount have mentioned previously that Altman’s fa- backbone of the Jerez economy, but in 1507 of money. He complained to the king several ther was a clockmaker, that he likely started an earthquake caused a landslide which fell times about that and in 1589 he stated that if learning horology from him, but he was fully into the channel that fed the port, changed its he was not paid he would have to leave the trained in Augsburg, the best place in Renais- course and drained it. After that, a different Spanish Royal Court.32 Martín Altman was sance Europe to learn the craft. After spending port was used but it was quite far from the city not bluffing and two years later, in 1591, Tom- four or five years in Augsburg, where he built and the merchandises needed to be transport- maso Contarini, the ambassador of Venice in up a socio-professional network, he moved ed by land. The city council wanted to restore Madrid, gave him the opportunity to leave to Brussels to join the Spanish Habsburgs the old port and asked for help from the best Spain to serve the Duke of Venice. Altman did court where he lived a few years and where he known engineers of the 16th and 17th centu- not give it a second thought, sold his work- opened a workshop. We know almost nothing ries, including Martín Altman. After visiting shop in Madrid33 and left Spain for Italy after about the workshop, but the fact that some- Jerez de la Frontera in the Summer of 1573, almost four decades serving the Habsburgs. In one stole some clocks from it confirms that he stated that he would be able to return the his journey to Venice, while spending a few it was a clockmaking workshop.45 The few water to the old port by digging a course deep months in Genoa, he received a tempting offer witnesses who mention it uses the Spanish and wide enough to allow big vessels to dock from the Grand Duke of Tuscany, who prom- word ‘tienda’, which means a place open to in Jerez.41 We do not have further informa- ised to allow him to live comfortably in the the public. tion about the outcome of Altman’s project, Palazzo Vecchio in Florence for six months if but everything suggest that it wasn’t carried We have an indirect mention which shows he committed to keep his stay secret. Altman out, as Altman returned to Madrid the follow- that Altman ran a workshop in Seville dur- accepted and spent six months in Florence ing year and the problem continued in the 17th ing his banishment, although his professional but after that he offered his services to Venice century. life during these four years is not very well again and asked for an opportunity to present 34 known. The council registers of Jerez de la his inventions to the Venetian Duke. Altman was strongly interested in crafts other Frontera mention him as ‘clockmaker to the than horology, but he does not tell clearly At this point we lose track of Altman and we king’ when he visits the place to propose an from whom he learnt them. In 1592 he inti- do not know what happened next. Further re- engineering public work project. Before re- mates to have acquired his knowledge about search in the Archivio di Stato of Venice could turning to Madrid in 1574, he pawned in pyrotechnics and war machines during the reveal if he finally was allowed to show his in- Seville his tools and other objects from his Schmalkaldic war between 1546 and 1551. ventions to the Duke and if he sponsored him. workshop contained in two big trunks, in- He was very likely in touch with other engi- Altman was then older than sixty, a quite ad- cluding new finished and unfinished clocks neers in Augsburg and then in the Habsburg vanced age for the period and he could likely or watches, and models of machines.46 This court in Brussels, including the famous Juane- have died during the decades of the 1590s or confirms once again his occupation as clock- lo Turriano, although there is no further evi- 1600s. maker. dence about that. In addition, Altman might The Engineer have taught himself from books on machines. The objects kept in his workshop in the Plaza Mayor of Madrid are better known thanks to After tracking Martin Altman’s life, we will When he was arrested the Inquisition confis- the inventory attached to the sale document examine his professional activities including cated all his goods, including his books and to Roberto Rabiller in 1591.47 The inventory his works in different periods of his life, start- personal archive. According to different wit- only contains time telling devices and horo- ing with his engineering works. nesses, Altman used to read a book by Luther which the Inquisition attorney looked for, but logical tools. Altman had not given up his As engineer, he designed fireworks for civil others were found at his house, including one pyrotechnic inventions. All his tools and ob- purposes, for example to celebrate the birth about medicine printed in Frankfurt in 1548, jects related to them where not included in the of the crown prince of Spain.35 He also made two books from the Bible, an almanac42 and workshop sale and he presumably took them other military inventions described by him in two more about machines43, whose titles are with him to Italy. Anyway, this inventory con- a letter to the king in 1589, including different not mentioned. None of the books were in firms he devoted himself to horology. types of projectiles for cannons, shell bombs Spanish. They also found manuscripts whose In Table 2 I have compiled a list of the horo- of various sizes that broke apart in small piec- contents are not described in the trial because logical instruments he made, serviced and es, incendiary bombs and others with toxic the Spaniards were unable to read them. In ad- traded with during his life. The information smoke that would kill everyone who breathed dition to administrative documents about his is organised in different fields containing the it.36 These projectiles were rare in that period professional activities, some of these manu- description of the object, its connection with but not at all new. It is significant that, accord- scripts could have been technical treatises or

Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society No. 147 (2020) 13 Table 2. Instruments made, serviced or traded by Martin Altman N Item description Job Price Owner Date 1 A monstrance clock.1 Service Conde de Rivadavia, collected by 12/06/60 Melchor Glaude. 2 A clock that hangs in the air in a gilded pierced case, Described in latin by Claudio Sublet, 12/06/60 which has two parts, one holding the hand that shows the almoner to the Queen Isabella of hours and the other one with the turning toothed wheels. Valois, Philip II wife. It strikes the hours in a small iron . The clock hangs from a black silk string.2 Collected by Licenciado Juan Descario. 3 A small clock/ in a velvet pouch.3 Service 60 reals Pablo Descalante, Dalbion de Aragon 12/06/60 servant. 4 [The clock/watch] is gilded and shows the hours but Service 3’5 ducats Juan de Mendoza y Rivera. 14/06/60 doesn’t strike them. It is square and smaller than the hand palm. It has a case and a key attached to it with a silk and gold string. The cut thing [the glass of the opening] which shows the hours when the case is closed is missing.4 5 A round clock/watch in the shape of an apple (‘poma’).5 Fray Juan Bolante, from the Peñafiel 14/06/60 monastery. 6 A gilded clock/watch without any small bell.6 Collected by Francisco Ruiz, servant of 14/06/60 the Emperor ambassador. 7 A clock with the shape of a big tower with the bell Don Pedro Manrique, resident in 15/06/60 missing, with the top uncovered, with a gilded rose on Burgos. Collected by his maid Antonio the small bell. [Antonio Gentil said that] the case and the Gentil. key are missing.7 8 A small clock/watch in a horn case with an opening with Gaspar Nuñez, resident in Valladolid. 15/06/60 a glass.8 9 A round gilded clock/watch.9 Collected by a Kings’ servant 18/06/60 10 Two big clocks and two small clocks/watches.10 The King and prince Don Carlos. 20/06/60 Collected by Alonso Davila, servant of don Diego de Cordova, His Majesty equerry. 11 A small clock/watch with no bell in a brass case showing To sell Miguel Fadda, servant of don 20/06/60 the Joseph story. With its black gilded leather custode it for its Hieronimo de Barbera, His Majesty garnished with black velvet inside, and the key of the owner Chaplain. clock/watch.11 12 A Clock.12 Make 120 ducats 27/10/65 13 A clock/watch.13 74,5 ducats Enrique Flamenco, servant of Juan 28/01/69 Manrique. 14 A clock/watch which is not new.14 12 reals Marques de Carpio. 28/01/69 15 A clock/watch15 70 ducats Duque de Alba. 28/01/69 470 reals owed 16 A clock/watch.16 His Majesty. 22/04/79 17 Clocks/watches.17 Made by Hans de Havre, apprentice to 29/04/69 Altman. 18 New unfinished clocks/watches in two trunks pawned in Martin Altman. 31/10/74 Seville.18 19 [A small watch] with the shape of a gilded heart [in its In possession of Esteban Doria, from 24/03/76 case].19 Genoa, who lived at Lorenzo Espínola home, from Genova. Collected by Altman from him. 20 [A small gilded watch] like a small nut [in its case].20 24/03/76 21 [A small watch] round and plain which strikes the hours 24/03/76 [in its case].21 22 A small watch which is missing.22 24/03/76

14 Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society No. 147 (2020) 23 A small breast watch.23 13.090 Martin Altman, taken to serve His 20/05/80 maravedis Majesty. 24 The palace .24 Keep King Philip II. 23/11/84 25 A big gilded clock with all its accessories.25 600 reals Altman purchased it from Gonzalo de 31/05/85 Cervantes. 26 A big clock of the height of a man after being put Altman. together, which has all its parts, including its metal parts, pillars, hammers and eleven . The said clock is new, has carved metal doors and is unfinished. It is in a wooden case with a key in the shape of a crate.26 27 A small weigh driven clock with alarm.27 Don Juan de Borja, the Empress 22/03/91 seneschal. 28 A clock/watch which shows the hours, round like an From a defunct trinitarian friar. 22/03/91 orange, which is under my possession since many years ago.28 29 A clock/watch like a sandbox (A drum clock/watch).29 Matut former servant of Doctor Pero 22/03/91 Nuñez. 30 A breast striking watch which bell is broken.30 Nicolás Ferero cashier of Juan Battista 22/03/91 Riccio, from Genoa. 31 A watch that shows the hours in the shape of a small Service 4 ducats A gentleman relative to don Luys de 22/03/91 gunpowder flask.31 Toledo. 32 A round clock/watch like a medium sized apple.32 A company captain in Naples, an 22/03/91 unknown person. 33 A breast striking watch with alarm mechanism.33 Ascoli Princess secretary. 22/03/91 34 A big clock with a foot made like a round mirror with a Service 40 reals Marques de Tavera. 22/03/91 big bell.34 owed 35 A breast oval watch which strikes the hours.35 Fray Juan Volante from Nuestra 22/03/91 Señora de Atocha. 36 A breast watch which strikes the hours, slightly long Fray Juan Volante from Nuestra 22/03/91 (‘tombado’).36 Señora de Atocha. 37 One weight driven clock which is slightly big.37 Martín Idíaquez. 22/03/91 38 Nine small and medium clocks/watches.38 From different owners, in possession 22/03/91 of Roberto Rabiller. 39 Sundial from/to Fuentes.39 Make 50 reals 22/03/91 40 A small watch which is missing.40 Service Salerno Prince son. 22/03/91 41 A small oval watch better than the previous one.41 22/03/91 42 A gilded brass clock/watch.42 Made by Juan Hurtado de Mendoza, inherited 1624 Altman from Iñigo Hurtado de Mendoza. 43 Monstrance clock from c. 1600 with punched initials Attributed Now in a private collection in Holland. c.1600 NA or MA.43 to Altman

Notes 13. Archivo Histórico Nacional, 23. Archivo General de Indias, 34. Ibid. 1. Archivo Histórico Nacional, Inquisición, leg. 111, exp. 16, Indiferente, 426, L. 26, fol. 35. Ibid. Inquisición, leg. 111, exp. 16, fol. 90v, 91r. 204V-205r. 36. Ibid. fol. 8r. 14. Ibid. 24. Archivo Histórico 37. Ibid. 2. Idem, fol. 9r. 15. Ibid. Nacional, Consultas de 38. Ibid. 3. Idem, fol. 10r. 16. Idem, fol. 106r. gracia, leg. 4409, n148 39. Ibid. 4. Idem, fol. 5r. 17. Idem, fol. 118r. . 25. 40. Ibid. 5. Idem,fol. 6r. 18. ARChVa, Pleitos civiles, Archivo Histórico de Protocolos 41. Ibid 6. Ibid. Masas (F), Caja 771-4, fol. de Madrid, leg. 6106, fol. 562. 42. Ibid. 7. Ibid. 14rº-15rº. 26. Idem, leg. 1310, fol. 252r. 43. Amelia Aranda Huete, ‘La 8. Idem, fol. 6v. 19. Archivo Histórico de 27. Idem, fol. 254r. presencia del reloj en la vivienda 9. Idem, fol. 7r. Protocolos de Madrid, 28. Ibid. en época Moderna’, in Ars & 10. Ibid. Prot. 959, (Pedro Gutiérrez 29. Ibid. Renovatio, No. 3 (2015), p. 108. 11. Idem, fol.12r. de Molina), fol. 74. 30. Ibid. 44. H. M. Vehmeyer, Clocks, 12. Archivo General de Indias, 20. Ibid. 31. Ibid. their origin and development. Indiferente, 425, L.24, fol. 260v. 21. Ibid. 32. Ibid. 1320-1880. Vol. I (Gent: Snoeck, 22. Ibid. 33. Ibid. 2004), p. 782.

Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society No. 147 (2020) 15 Fig. 1 Spring driven hanging clock, Augsburg, 1575, inv. Fig. 2 Hanging clock driven but its own weight. Jacobus Mayr, no. WI1847. The author shows his gratitude to Dietrich Matthes and Augsburg, 1670-1680. British Museum, inv. no. 1958,1006.2085. © the Germanisches National Museum of Nurnberg for their help to The Trustees of the British Museum. procure the image of this clock. (CC).

Altman, the price charged for his work on it, which shows a more complete overview as sources unless when the descriptions explic- the owner of the object and the source where more objects were presumably included. Next itly mention their portability or their driv- the information comes from. Obviously, it is to these groups we have included all addi- ing source. This issue is made worse by the not a comprehensive list and it includes only tional mentions of clocks found in different fact that in Spanish the only one word ‘reloj’ those clocks mentioned in the sources that sources, even those mentioned indirectly. means either clock or watch depending on the are known. Future archival findings could context. Sometimes a diminutive form like In the middle of the 16th century clock and contribute to enrich and maybe to change our ‘relojito’ or ‘relojico’ is used for small por- watch making began to separate as different current view on Altman’s professional activ- table watches but also for small weight driven specialities within the field of horology in ity. His engineering and military inventions domestic clocks. some places, including Augsburg, but the list have been excluded from this Table. suggest that Altman practiced both. One of Altman serviced many portable watches at Two groups of objects stand out from the the biggest devices he managed was probably different times of his life. Some are kept in a rest. The first one, highlighted in pale blue, the turret clock of the Royal Palace, which he pouch or in a leather case, good evidence that includes the clocks seized by the Inquisition looked after for four years at least.48 Maybe it they were meant to be moved frequently (3, from his workshop in 1560 and claimed back was not the first time he was in charge of a big 4, 8, 11). Particularly interesting are the two by their owners when they knew that Altman clock; surely there were others as in Tomas mentioned in 1574 in the shape of a heart (19) was arrested. This group offers only a par- Geiger’s house in Augsburg during the 1550s. and of a nut (20) for their sizes and shapes. tial view of his workshop, as only the clocks There are also various ‘breast’ or pendant Most time telling devices serviced or made claimed by their owners are mentioned or de- watches (23, 30, 33, 35, 36) to be worn hang- by Altman were domestic clocks and por- scribed. Besides these objects, the workshop ing from the neck, and there are also poman- table watches. The Royal Palace turret clock would likely contain more instruments un- der watches of different sizes (5, 9, 28, 32). (24) and the sundial (39) are the exceptions claimed by their owners and others belonging that confirm the rule. It is difficult to know The description of one of the clocks seized to Altman including unfinished clocks made the typology of many clocks from the list and by the Inquisition in 1560 is more difficult by him and used instruments purchased by how big they were, except that most are ei- to interpret (2). It has a gilded pierced case him for refurbishing and reselling. All these ther weight or spring driven domestic clocks made from two pieces, one with the pointer objects remain invisible. The second group, or portable spring driven watches. Both types showing the hours and the other one holding highlighted in grey, is comprised by those are not clearly differentiated in the original the mechanism. The clock strikes the hours from the 1591 inventory of his workshop,

16 Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society No. 147 (2020) The description doesn’t mention Atocha56, but also because he participated in the power source of the clock but a mission to the Philippines and was involved the fact that it hangs from a silk in a debate about how to evangelise Asia.57 string suggests this. This type of clocks exists from the 15th cen- Conclusions tury51 and they are still made in In this article I have presented the most im- the 17th, although they are rare portant sources known about Martin Altman, (Fig. 2).52 emphasising the relevance of the Inquisition trial because of its richness in details. All these When Altman sold his workshop, documents allowed me to show Altman’s pro- he was making a complicated mu- fessional side and life in broad strokes. Other sical clock with eleven bells (26). aspects are not studied here, but will be in The unfinished clock is included the future, for example his social network, in the workshop sale agreement, which is well depicted in the Inquisition trial. but not in the inventory, which We have focused our search for sources in suggest its rarity and exceptional Madrid, but archives from other cities could economical value. This is prob- likely contain further useful documents, for ably the most complex clock of example the ‘Archivos Historicos Provincia- the list and probably one of the les’ of Toledo and Seville, which keep notary most valuable ones he ever made. protocols from the 16th century. Other docu- We haven’t found any mention ments about him or mentioning him may be to astronomical clocks, probably kept outside of Spain, for example in Augs- because they were not very usual burg, Florence and Venice. Finding sources at the Spanish court, although about him in Italy could provide invaluable we know they existed in differ- information because his life after he left Spain ent collections of that period in is barely known. Madrid, including the Royal col- I have tracked his life and his works, but the 53 lection. person of Martin Altman deserves further re- We also included in the list an search. For example, his social network can existing clock, formerly in the be explored further from the known sources, Vehmeyer collection, which may particularly from the Inquisition and Chancil- be attributed to Martin Altman lería trials, in which different people witness (43, Fig. 3). It is a gilded mon- against and for him, some in both trials. Cur- strance clock with a silvered dial rently I am researching the horological trade ring showing the hours and min- in Madrid during the Habsburgs which will utes with two hands. According be included in a future publication which will to the collection catalogue it has offer further details of the horological trade. a punch with initials NA or MA, Notes and References and it was made in South Germa- ny around 1600.54 Altman, who 1. Nicolás García Tapia, Patentes de inven- learned the craft in Augsburg and ción españolas en el siglo de oro (Madrid: was active by 1591 in Spain and Registro de la Propiedad Industrial, Ministe- rio de Industria y Energía, 1990), p. 24. Fig. 3 Monstrance clock showing NA or MA punched on could likely still be few years the movement, maybe the signature of Martin Altman. later. Although these evidences 2. David Goodman, Power and penury: gov- Formerly in the Vehmeyer collection. Image taken from H. are consistent with the attribu- ernment, technology and science in Philip II’s M. VEHMEYER: Clocks, their origin and development. tion to Altman, they are not con- Spain (Cambridge: Cambridge University 1320–1880, Vol. I, Gent, Snoeck, 2004, p. 782. Photo clusive, and the object should be Press, 1988), p. 163. credits: Henk Stam. examined to look for clues which 3. Werner Thomas, La represión del protes- confirm or dismiss it. tantismo en España, 1517-1648 (Leuven: on a bell and hangs from a silk string. This Luckily, we know many of the Leuven University), 2001, p. 83. names of Altman’s customers, most of whom may be interpreted as a pomander watch or 4. Margarita Ana Vázquez Manassero, El “yn- are noblemen and other people connected a spherical spring driven domestic clock. genio” en palacio: arte y ciencia en la corte with the Royal Court, including the king Phil- The existence of pomander watches is well de los Austrias (ca. 1585-1640) (Madrid: Fun- ip II. Altman’s customers and social network documented from the 1520s and 1530s and dación Juanelo Turriano, 2018), p. 115-121. they were intended to be worn in pouches or will be studied further in a future article.55 For hanging from the clothing.49 Bigger similar now, I just want to point out that, apart from 5. Archivo Histórico Nacional, Inquisición, domestic clocks were made in the 16th cen- the King, Altman had another loyal customer leg. 111, exp. 16. tury, including one kept in the National Ger- during more than three decades: Fray Juan 6. Archivo de la Real Chancillería de Vallado- manisches Nationalmuseum of , Volante. Volante was the owner of one watch lid, Pleitos civiles, Masas (F), Caja 771-4. which could be used as a table clock or hang- seized by the Inquisition in 1560 (5) and of rd ing from the ceiling, but in the first case the two more watches in 1591 (35, 36). He was 7. On 23 December 1568 he states to be 38 th dial would be hidden (Fig. 1).50 It could be also connected to the Royal Court, not only and on 8 February 1570, 40 years old. Archi- interpreted also as a self-weight driven clock. because he was a Friar at Nuestra Señora de vo Histórico Nacional, Inquisición, leg. 111,

Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society No. 147 (2020) 17 exp. 16, fol. 85rº-86rº and 171rº respectively. 22. Michael L. Wayman, The ferrous metal- basciatori, Vol II. secolo XVI (Venezia: Pietro lurgy of early clocks and watches studies in Naratovich, 1855), pp. 45-49. 8. Archivo Histórico de Protocolos de Ma- post medieval steel (, British Mu- drid, Prot. 1177, Francisco Suarez, fol. 465rº, 35. Archivo Histórico Nacional, Consultas seum), 2000, p. 3; Alan Williams, The knight Madrid, 1588. de gracia, leg. 4409, n148, Madrid, 1584, and the blast furnace: a history of the met- November 23. Could be either Prince Diego 9. Archivo Histórico Nacional, Inquisición, allurgy of armour in the Middle Ages & the Felix b. 1575, either Prince Philip, b. 1578, leg. 111, exp. 16, fol. 3rº-vº, Toledo, 1560, early modern period (Leiden: Brill, 2003), p. future Philip III of Spain. June, 12. 361. 36. Archivo General de Simancas, GA, 10. Idem, fol. 85rº, Toledo, 1568, December, 23. Peter Plassmeyer, Christoph Schissler: 266/177, El Escorial, 1589, September, 6; 23. The elector´s dealer, in Giorgio Strano et al., Alicia Cámara Munñoz, ‘Cantería e ingeni- eds, European collections of scientific instru- 11. See footnote 9. ería del Renacimiento en el puente de Zuazo ments, 1550-1750 (Leiden: Boston, Brill, en Cádiz’, in Lexicon. Storia e architettura in 12. Fabio Mutinelli, ed., Storia arcana ed an- 2009), p. 16. The 1546 Parliament was par- Sicilia e nel Mediterraneo, No. 20 (2015), p. eddotica d’Italia, raccontata dai veneti am- ticularly relevant, as many important artists 19, footnote 20; David Goodman, Power and basciatori, Vol II. secolo XVI (Venezia: Pietro worked for the Emperor, including Tiziano, penury: government, technology and science Naratovich, 1855), p. 46. see Rose Marie Aulinger, ‘Augsburg und die in Philip II’s Spain (Cambridge: Cambridge Reichstäge de 16, Jahrhundertsi’, in Welt im 13. See note 14. University Press, 1988), p. 163. Umbruch. Augsburg zwischen Renaissance 14. Altman mentions him later in the trial und Barock. Band III: Beiträge (Augsburg: 37. Simon Werrett, Fireworks: pyrotechnic as ‘Simon Frederique’: Archivo Histórico Stadt Augsburg, 1980), p. 15. arts and sciences in European history (Chica- Nacional, Inquisición, leg. 111, exp. 16, fol. go: University of Chicago Press, 2010), p. 30. 91rº-92rº, Toledo, 1569, February 19. Master 24. Archivo General de Simancas, GA, th Simon Friederich is mentioned in Maximilian 268/148, fol. 35, El Escorial, 1589, June, 20. 38. In the second half of the 16 century, Bobinger, Kunstuhrmacher in Alt-Augsburg Altman states he started to serve the Emperor Martin Altman wasn’t the only one trying to (Augsburg: Rösler, 1969), p. 16. in 1555. find reliable methods to dive, see María Do- lores Higueras Rodríguez, ‘La recuperación 25. In 1592 Altman states that he started serv- 15... ‘que sabe el nombre [de su Maestro en submarina en la Carrera de Indias: el riesgo ing the Emperor c. 36 years before, see Fabio Augsburgo] mejor que [el de] su padre’, see necesario’, in La Casa de la Contratación y Mutinelli, ed., Storia arcana ed aneddotica previous note. la Navegación entre España y las Indias (Se- d’Italia, raccontata dai veneti ambasciatori, villa: Universidad de Sevilla, 2004), p. 708. 16. Eva Groiss, ‘The Augsburg clockmaker’s Vol II. secolo XVI (Venezia: Pietro Narato- craft’, in Klaus Maurice, and Otto Mayr, eds, vich, 1855), p. 46. 39. Archivo General de Simancas, GA, The clockwork universe. German clocks and 266/177, El Escorial, 1589, September 6. automata 1550-1650 (New : Neale Wat- 26. Geoffrey Parker, Emperor. A new life of son Academic Publications, Inc., 1980), p. 59. Charles V (New Haven and London: Yale 40. Fabio Mutinelli, ed., Storia arcana ed an- The regulations of the Augsburg clockmakers University Press, 2019), p. 463. eddotica d’Italia, raccontata dai veneti am- basciatori, Vol II. secolo XVI (Venezia: Pietro guild started to develop in the 1550s. 27 Idem, Imprudent king. A new life of Philip Naratovich, 1855), pp. 45-49. 17 He mentions him as ‘Tomagaire’ which II (New Haven and London: Yale University undoubtedly is the clockmaker Thomas Gei- Press, 2015), pp. 53-54. 41. Archivo Municipal de Jerez de la Frontera, Actas Capitulares, fol. 389v-390r, 393r and v, ger, who transferred his workshop to his 28. Archivo Histórico Nacional, Inquisición, 397r. Jerez de la Frontera, 1573, June, 3, 5, son also named Thomas Geiger in 1583; see leg. 111, exp. 16, fol. 29rº, Toledo, 1560, 8 and 10. The 1507 earthquake and the visit Klaus Maurice, Die Deutsche Räderuhr. Band June, 22. Altman lives in Toledo at Gonzalo of Martin Altman is mentioned in a publica- I (München: Verlag C. H. Beck, 1976), p. 294. Lopez de Herrera’s house. tion from the second half of the 17th century: 18. Archivo Histórico Nacional, Inquisición, 29. Idem, fol. 40rº, Madrid, 1568, October, Fray Esteban Rallón, Historia de la ciudad leg. 111, exp. 16, fol. 92rº, Toledo, 1569, Feb- 30. de Xerez de la Frontera y de los reyes que la ruary 16. dominaron desde su primera fundación, vol. 30. Archivo Histórico de Protocolos de Ma- III (Cádiz: Universidad de Cádiz, Servicio de 19. Mentioned in the trial as ‘Jorge Gutre- drid, leg. 1310, Madrid, 1591, March, 22. Publicaciones, 1997), p. 155. An upcoming man’. Georg Gutterman pertained to an im- Partially published in Esteban García Chico, study of the history of the hydraulic engineer- portant family of makers in Augsburg, see ‘Documentos para la historia del arte en Cas- ing works in Jerez de la Frontera by Manuel Klaus Maurice, Die Deutsche Räderuhr. Band tilla. Maestros relojeros’, in Boletín del Semi- Romero Bejarano also studies the project pro- I (München: Verlag C. H. Beck, 1976), p. 293; nario de Arte y Arqueología, No. 32 (1966). The Guttermans were also involved in the posed by Altman. 31. Archivo Histórico Nacional, Inquisición, city government of Augsburg, see Hansjörg 42. Archivo Histórico Nacional, Inquisición, leg. 111, exp. 16, fol. 139vº, Toledo, 1569, Schelle, ‘Neue Quellen und Untersuchungen leg. 111, exp. 16, fol. 75rº y vº, Toledo, 1569, July, 8. After the torture session he asked the zum Kreise Sophie von La Roches und C. January 10. M. Wielands 1. Teil’, in Lessing Jahrbuch, board to allow him to leave for a spa to re- 1988, Vol. XX (Göttingen: Wallstein Verlag), cover from the injuries of his hand. 43. Idem, fol. 92rº, Toledo, 1569, February 16. p. 209. 32. Archivo General de Simancas, GA, 20. Archivo Histórico Nacional, Inquisición, 268/35, 1589, June, 20. 44. Archivo General de Simancas, GA, 262/865, Madrid, 1589, June 28. leg. 111, exp. 16, fol. 171rº y vº, Toledo, 1570, 33. Archivo Histórico de Protocolos de Ma- February 8. drid, leg. 1310, Madrid, 1591, March, 22. 45. Archivo Histórico Nacional, Inquisición, leg. 111, exp. 16, fol. 27rº, Toledo, 1560, June 21. Idem, fol. 59rº y vº, Toledo, 1569, Febru- 34. Fabio Mutinelli, ed., Storia arcana ed an- 25. Altman had a bad relationship with his ary, 6 eddotica d’Italia, raccontata dai veneti am- house landlord in Brussels and he accused

18 Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society No. 147 (2020) Book Reviews

Continued from page 10 him of stealing two or three clocks from his further into the measuring process and the workshop. physics of the and compensation phenomena. These chapters get increasingly 46. ‘… dos baules grandes de carga questan technical with increasingly complex graphs, en Sevilla en poder de un librero que mora en statistics, technical diagrams and equations. la calle de la sierpe, llenos de herramientas y Stephen Hawking was allegedly told that ev- mi arte y reloxes nuebos para acabar y vender ery equation he adds to his books would half y otros modelos de engenios…’, Archivo de the number of potential book sales. I don’t la Real Chancillería de Valladolid, Pleitos ci- know whether that is true, or whether he even viles, Masas (F), Caja 771-4, fol. 14rº-15rº, said it, but either way I’m sure it’s true that Madrid, 1574, October, 31. equations in a book could put some people 47. Archivo Histórico de Protocolos de Ma- off. I am reliably informed that they are all drid, leg. 1310, Madrid, 1591, March 22. very elegant and accurate if you are able to 48. Archivo Histórico Nacional, Consultas de Fig. 2 Sir George White (left), Keeper understand them, however, luckily for me at gracia, leg. 4409, n148, Madrid, 1584, No- Emeritus of the Clockmakers’ Museum least, an understanding of all of this technical vember 23. Collection in London and Jonathan Betts detail is not needed in order to understand the (right) as they seal the case closed with a principles presented and the story being told. 49. Dietrich Matthes, Zeit haben. Tragbare wax seal of ‘Clock B’ in April 2014 at the The question in my mind when reading this Uhren vor 1550 (Dover, DE: Carpe Diem Royal Observatory. Publishing, 2018), pp. 53-76. book and the surrounding commentary is whether Harrison’s conceptual approach was 50. Ibid., p. 82. ect has generated quite a lot of discussion and controversy over the years, in particular a scientifically important missed opportunity 51. Emmanuel Poulle, Un constructeur claims that Harrison’s approach could not to advance accurate land-based timekeeping d´instruments astronomiques au XVe siècle: work because it violates some supposed foun- prior to the inventions of the twentieth cen- Jean Fusoris (: Librarie Honoré Cham- dational principles in horology. This is why tury. This book helps answer that question. pion, 1963, p. 27. the next chapter, by Jonathan Betts (Fig. 2), The 12 authors of this book are probably the most authoritative voices you could ask for 52. A hanging clock from c. 1670-1680 is of such importance, as it covers the process and the evidence they provide is all inde- is kept in the British Museum (inv. no. of how multiple objective trials of Clock B’s pendently verifiable. Although some of the 1958,1006.2085) Instead from a string, it timekeeping were verified, a process which technical detail later in the book might be too hangs from a chain. See Fig. 2. included many leaders in their field and the use of present day measuring equipment. As much for some, the book is nonetheless clear 53. Amelia Aranda Huete, ‘La presencia del well as producing results acceptable within and engaging and covers a topic of historical reloj en la vivienda en época Moderna’ in Ars the profession it also resulted in the clock en- importance. & Renovatio, No. 3 (2015), pp. 93-124. tering the Guinness Book of World Records. Tom Jackson 54. H. M. Vehmeyer, Clocks, their origin The next and final three chapters drill down and development. 1320-1880. Vol. I (Gent: Snoeck, 2004), p. 782. 55. Further details on some Altman custom- ers mentioned in the 1591 inventory are of- Astrolabes technical account by Raymond d’Hollaender; fered in Margarita Ana Vázquez Manassero, Dominique and Eric Delalande, Patrick L’Astrolabe (1993), and a more approachable El “yngenio” en palacio: arte y ciencia en la Rocca work, Cueillir les étoiles: autour des astro- corte de los Austrias (ca. 1585-1640) (Ma- Galerie Delalande, Paris 2020.Lge. 4°, (25 labes de Strasbourg, by François Debeauvais drid: Fundación Juanelo Turriano, 2018), pp. x 30cm), slip case, 2 vols, colour printed and Paul-André Befort (Strasbourg 2002). For 123, 124. paper boards, pp. 607, copiously illustrated English readers the magisterial work by Wil- in colour liam H. Morley, Description of a planispheric 56. Nuestra Señora de Atocha was particu- Available only from the Galerie Delalande, astrolabe constructed for Shah Sultan Huzain larly important for the Spanish monarchy dur- th th 35 rue de Lille, 75007 Paris. Price 220€. Safawi… and … comprising an account of the ing the 16 and 17 centuries. King Philip II astrolabe generally … London 1856, reprint- Why write another book about astrolabes? contributed economically to the construction ed in Robert T. Gunther, The Astrolabes of the There are already many. Perhaps because of of the convent and felt a strong devotion for World, 2 vols 1932 (reprinted 1976), the perennial fascination of an instrument the Virgin of Nuestra Señora de Atocha, see has still to be bettered, although it is rivalled which combines mathematical ingenuity, aes- Jesús Urrea and Maria Aranda, ‘El templo, la by Willy Hartner, ‘The Principle and use of thetic satisfaction and high utility into a po- capilla y el camarín de Nuestra Señora de the astrolabe’ in Arthur Upham Pope (ed), A tent whole. The authors of the present work Atocha de Madrid’, in Boletín delSeminario Survey of Persian Art, iii, 1939. More recent- claim that the astrolabe remains mysterious, de Arte y Arqueología, No. 77 (2011), pp. ly a succinct, lucid account has been given reserved to a few cognoscenti, and that a new 119-140. by John North, ‘The Astrolabe’, (Scientific approach offering a guide for the neophyte 57. John Foreman, The Philippine Islands American ccxxx 1973), a beginner’s guide is needed. This is debateable. The classic (New York: Charles Scribner’s sons, 1899), published by the National Maritime Museum, work by Henri Michel, Traité de l’astrolabe p. 51; Fidel Pérez Mínguez, ‘Don Juan de Greenwich (1976), and a detailed historical (1947, reprinted with additions 1976), re- Idiaquez, embajador y consejero de Felipe and technical study by James E. Morrison, mains a standard reference for what con- II, 1514-1614’ in International journal on The Astrolabe (2007). cerns the technical aspects of the instrument Basque studies, 23, (1) (1932), pp. 240-241. for French readers, and it has been joined in Author’s email address: recent years by a more popular treatment by [email protected] J. N. Tardy, Astrolabes (1999), a crushingly Continued on page 29

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