Two women holding a banner at center as a phoenix rises above; set design from 'Il Fuoco Eterno'

About this artwork

Step into the dramatic world of 17th-century Baroque theater with this enchanting 1674 etching, *Two Women Holding a Banner at Center a Phoenix Rises Above; Set Design from 'Iloco Eterno'*. by the collaborative talents of stage designer Ludovico Ottaviano Burnac and engraver Mathäussel, it captures a fantastical scene where two women grasp a central banner while a majestic phoenix soars overhead, symbolizing rebirth and eternal fire—themes resonant with the opera's title, *Il Fuoco Eterno*. At 10 3/16 × 6 9/16 inches, this trimmed sheet exemplifies the intricate ornament and architecture of festive prints (prints-fête), designed for Habsburg court spectacles in Vienna. Burnacini, a master of illusionistic stagecraft, and Küsel, renowned for his precise reproductive etchings, showcase Baroque exuberance through dynamic composition and fine line work. Etching's fluid technique allowed Küsel to translate Burnacini's elaborate designs into portable prints, disseminating grand theatrical visions to a wider audience. These works bridged architecture, ornament, and performance, reflecting the era's cultural splendor amid opera's rise. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1953), this piece preserves a slice of historical pageantry. Imagine the flickering torchlight and soaring melodies it once evoked— a testament to art's power to immortalize spectacle. (198 words)