The Roman curia with guards in the anteroom; 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 shows a grand hall, with a large crowd of people seated in rows, facing a stage with two figures in the foreground. The intricately detailed architecture and ornate decoration of the hall, emphasized by the use of hatching and cross-hatching, capture the opulence of a Baroque setting. The theatrical nature of the scene, with its emphasis on spectacle and grandeur, reflects the prevailing artistic tastes of the period. The etching is a valuable historical document, offering insights into the design and production of opera in the 17th century. This artwork is currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.