The fact that Dürer’s activities, branding policy and legal disputes originate in Nuremberg is not a coincidence. This is a city with vivid commercial activity, attracting craftsmen, artists and fairs. Nuremberg was at the time an independent city of the Holy Roman Empire. In this free and sovereign city, it was the Council of Nuremberg that regulated and controlled all aspects of private or professional life. To guarantee that commercial transactions were in the sole jurisdiction of the Council, guilds were banned already in the 14thcentury. Operating in a city without guilds created a rather particular environment that came into contrast with what was the case in other cities of the empire, even those neighbouring Nuremberg.43 In this trade-focused city, market-based transactions were promoted, while at the same time, there was a constant spirit of moderation in the way these were to operate. While successful businesses were promoted and enhanced, Nuremberg was not by far an unregulated market. The powerful Council of Nuremberg controlled the activities of craftsmen and artisans. The Nuremberg Book of Handicrafts, acode of craft regulations, gave the Council the mandate to regulate in detail even the social activities of artists and craftsmen, such as for instance their banquets. The Council did not stop at adopting regulations but proceeded in monitoring their enforcement by means of a network of agents and inspectors with the task to visit markets and fairs and make detailed controls of the quality of the goods offered, of the prices as well of their weight and measure. In Dürer’s Nuremberg, the city council played the role of a combined legislative, executive and judicial power.44 Violations of the commercial regulations were to be controlled by the Pfänder, an official that was elected by the Council. The Pfänder had the mandate to interrogate craftsmen and artists that were accused of violating commercial or other regulations or selling works of low quality. The Pfänder and the Council enjoyed the general acceptance of the craftsmen and artists active in Nuremberg who believed this strict regulation was a necessary means of preserving the fame of the city as a commercial environment of high quality. What is inter96 disruptive technology and materiality as vessels of authorship Nuremberg in context The Nuremberg Dispute
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