Maria Catharina Prestel

Maria Catharina Prestel was an artist whose documented professional activity spanned the years 1779 to 1790. Her primary output focused on graphic arts, positioning her as a producer of Maria Catharina Prestel prints during the late 18th century.

The ten works represented across major museum collections include five individual prints, one drawing, and four separate portfolios, underscoring her commitment to series production. Her known subject matter is diverse, covering historical scenes, genre studies, and landscape views, exemplified by titles such as Diogenes, Roman Sacrifice, and Landscape. Prestel is also documented as contributing to significant illustrative publications, including the print Old Man Pointing Left, plate 8 from the major volume Dessins des meilleurs Peintres d'Italie, d'Allemagne et des Pay-Bas Tirés de divers célebres Cabinets. Other documented prints include Three Lansquenets.

Prestel’s work is held in permanent museum collections, establishing its historical importance and museum-quality standing. Key institutions preserving her artistic contributions include the National Gallery of Art, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago. As works from this period often fall into the public domain, her prints remain highly accessible for scholarly study and general appreciation.