Abstract
The collection of Rudolf II (1552-1612), housed in various spaces at Prague Castle, has attracted attention from the time of its foundation to the present day. Most research effort in the past few decades has been focused on the set of chambers designated the Kunstkammer, and has given little consideration to the existence of a further private space, often cited in the archival sources or inventories.
Since the time of Rudolf's arrival at Prague Castle, there existed a room named in the records as the Schreibstüblein or Schreibstuben, which is to be regarded as the studiolo of the emperor - an intimate retreat and the repository for a number of select pieces from Rudolf's vast collections. The inventories of Prague Castle and the correspondence of foreign envoys confirm the presence of this space and help to define its position and function.