As I have called out on 'curiosity' in the past post. I am very much now interested in reading the 'wunderkammer and curiosity centers of the kings or ancients people. Surprisingly, some kings were too interested in finding the occults of nature, and their funding was too high for science. Although, it can be debated whether that science can be said 'science.' Notwithstanding, the alchemists working for a life-serum or turning things into gold.

Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II of Prague was interested in science. He was the king who is credited for 'thirty years war.' Despite that political naivety, he was superbly interested and invested in science, and he built his curiosity buildings all over Europe. His curiosity building was divided into three rooms, namely - scientifica, artificialia, and naturalia. Not to mention that while Rudolf was busy finding the occults - which he didn't find, he used to gather mathematicians, alchemists, and other types of scientists (Kepler was in this group for a time) and tell them to reveal the mysteries about skies, wizards - people declared him mad. 

In Prague, where he built the institute, there were too many researchers working in the shadow of Rudolf II. Now, this is the concept of today's institutions. For instance, a much-developed idea is Institute for Advanced Studies, Princeton. It shows that when fine minds work together, then there is always some outcome, not necessarily positive. Although Rudolf's team was busy finding the magic of nature, they were doing some things, not necessarily science. It fascinates me how were the scientists in the 17th century. I may not like the workflow and their ideas, but I like the lurch in their stargazing.

There is a word 'Rudolfine' that is used to describe the arts that he patronized.