Festival for Saint Placidus, Messina, August 2, 1589: Fireworks Obelisk 1591

Filippo Gotho's "Festival for Saint Placidus, Messina, August 2, 1589: Fireworks Obelisk" (1591) is an engraving that documents a celebratory fireworks display in Messina, Italy. This detailed drawing, which depicts an elaborate, tiered structure that shoots off fireworks, offers a glimpse into the extravagant spectacles that were part of Renaissance festivals. The visual emphasis on the fireworks, which burst upward in an array of dynamic lines, conveys the excitement and visual impact of this temporary architectural marvel. The detailed, stylized rendering of the pyrotechnic obelisk showcases the artist's meticulous hand and the intricate detail of the structure itself.