“Natural Wonders Set in Gold: The Art of Johann Christian Neuber,” by Wolfram Koeppe, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Saxony was traditionally known for its mining industry, the source of the region’s wealth and princely art patronage. During the eighteenth century—considered to be the great age of exploration of the area’s unusually diversified mineral deposits—countless “precious and wonderous stones” were discovered. The goldsmith and mineralogist Johann Christian Neuber used these magnificent stones to create a legacy of small gold boxes and other objects to honor his royal patrons. This lecture will introduce his oeuvre, focusing on the artist’s inspirations and the materials he used to create some of his best works.