Fireworks display by Engelhart Holtzschuer, Jobst Wilhelm Ebner and Johann Tobias Ebner as proof of mastership, Nuremberg, 1661

Art Historical Context

This etching by Lukas Schnitzer captures a spectacular fireworks display held in Nuremberg in 1661, staged by Engelhart Holtzuer, Jobst Wilhelm Ebner, and Johann Tobias Ebner as a demonstration of their mastery. Created as a printed record of the event, the work belongs to a tradition of “fête” prints that documented elaborate public celebrations across Europe. Measuring just under ten by fourteen inches, the sheet showcases the precision of etching, a technique well suited to rendering the explosive bursts, billowing smoke, and architectural details of the nighttime spectacle. In seventeenth-century Nuremberg, such displays often served both civic and professional purposes, marking important occasions while allowing artisans to prove their skill in pyrotechnics, engineering, and design. The composition includes cannons firing into the sky, lively crowds of onlookers, and decorative cartouches that frame the scene, reflecting the era’s blend of military technology and festive artistry. Schnitzer’s print thus preserves not only the visual drama of the moment but also the cultural significance of these events as tests of craftsmanship and community pride. Today housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection of drawings and prints, the work offers modern viewers a vivid glimpse into Baroque-era celebrations and the role of printmaking in commemorating them.