In early modern European culture, celebrations were opulent, performed as a matter of course. At the same time, every epoch developed its own unique type of public celebration, be it sacred or profane, courtly or urban. An essential part of the lavishly staged coronations, anniversaries, victory celebrations, or state visits, of weddings or birthdays, were the ephemeral, that is to say, short-lived, ceremonial structures. Designed and built specifically for a particular occasion, the platforms and stages transformed the familiar public space, filled spectators with amazement, and let them forget about their daily worries.

Yet the architecture, often created by well-known artists, was only of short duration—exactly like the moment of celebration. That is why since the fifteenth century descriptions of festivals, which record these fleeting moments in words and pictures, have been an integral component of public celebrations. At the same time, these usually abundantly illustrated documentations, in book form, are as varied as the events themselves. Thanks to these festival books, the cabinet exhibition in the study room revives the former monuments back to life.