Leopold I of Austria as Jupiter with his wife enthroned in the clouds, looking down on the struggling giants below

Art Historical Context

This striking engraving, created by Mathäus Küsel after a design by Mauro Oddi around 1659–82, portrays Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I as the god Jupiter. Seated with his wife among billowing clouds, the imperial couple gazes down upon the chaotic struggle of giants below. The dramatic composition transforms a classical myth into a powerful visual statement of divine authority and order triumphing over rebellion. Leopold I ruled during a turbulent period marked by conflicts with the Ottoman Empire and internal challenges to Habsburg power. By casting the emperor in the role of Jupiter—the supreme deity who defeated the rebellious giants—this print draws on Baroque conventions of allegory to celebrate monarchical strength and legitimacy. Such imagery reinforced the idea of rulers as godlike figures maintaining cosmic harmony. As an engraving, the work was well suited for wide circulation, allowing this majestic vision of imperial power to reach audiences far beyond the court. Its substantial size and detailed execution highlight the technical skill of 17th-century printmakers in translating grand painted compositions into accessible, reproducible art.

About the Artist

Mathäus Küsel|Mauro Oddi · 1629–1681

Matthäus Küsel (1629–1681) was a distinguished German copper engraver who achieved prominence as court engraver to the Holy Roman Emperor, earning the prestigious title of imperial court engraver (Hofkupferstecher). Born into the renowned Augsburg engraving and goldsmith family Küsel, Matthäus represented the height of German reproductive engraving in the Baroque period. His extensive oeuvre encom...