General Theater of Machines

...Rome, as well as in many foreign provinces, for which Your Imperial Majesty is now concerned, being both useful and necessary, it would hopefully be received with nothing but favor and grace—especially since he, the author, as a mechanician Mechanicus: In the early 18th century, this referred to a person skilled in both the theoretical and practical application of machines, encompassing the roles of a modern mechanical engineer and a master instrument maker., was in service to provide the great equipment for war and enjoyed a generous salary, and was therefore duty-bound to do so. Although I do not wish to compare my present writing with that of Vitruvius; I nevertheless have far more important reasons to most humbly dedicate this work to Your Royal Majesty and Electoral Serenity, as to a most precious AUGUSTUS original: "AUGUSTO" and Father of the Fatherland original: "Vater des Vaterlandes".

For God has not only richly adorned Your Royal Majesty with high understanding and wisdom to rule Your kingdoms and lands happily and well, but also with a deep insight, great experience, and knowledge of the arts and sciences; therefore, You not only love and powerfully protect the arts and artists, but also present them before the eyes of the whole world through magnificent and quite extraordinary palaces and buildings—by Your own high command—and through a collection Collection: A reference to the famous Dresden Kunstkammer and the Green Vault, which Augustus II "the Strong" greatly expanded into one of Europe's most significant museums of science, art, and technology. of all artistic, rare, and wonderful things, both of nature and of art, the likes of which will hardly, or not at all, be found in any other kingdom. This is done for the reception and promotion of the arts and sciences, as well as for the particular benefit of the land, showing favor not only to those who display extraordinary works of art Kunst-Wercke: At this time, the term "art" (Kunst) applied to any skillful human production, including complex machines, clocks, and scientific instruments., but even to those who can only present something modest, yet executed according to the rules of art, at all times with