A large gathering of people in the street as a goddess races across the sky in a chariot led by four horses; set design from 'Il Fuoco Eterno' 1674

This etching by Mathäus Küsel, created in 1674, depicts a set design for the opera 'Il Fuoco Eterno'. The scene showcases a grand, bustling street lined with ornate buildings, a central rotunda, and a crowd of people gazing upwards. A goddess in a chariot drawn by four horses ascends into the heavens, surrounded by clouds and rays of light. The intricate detail of the buildings and the dynamism of the divine ascent highlight the theatricality of Baroque opera. This artwork, now held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, offers a glimpse into the visual splendor of 17th-century stage design.