Melchior Küsel

Melchior Küsel was a printmaker whose documented activity spans the mid-17th century, specifically between 1665 and 1670. His extant output, primarily consisting of detailed prints, serves as a significant record of courtly life and architectural documentation of the period.

The subjects of Küsel's engravings are varied but feature a strong concentration on contemporary historical events and topographical representations. A substantial portion of his work records the elaborate spectacles commissioned by the Habsburg court, focusing on the 1666 marriage celebration of Emperor Leopold I and Margarita in Vienna. Documenting these ephemeral displays are works such as Pantomime with fireworks performed for the marriage of Emperor Leopold I to the Infanta Margarita of Spain in Vienna, 1666 and multiple renderings titled Fireworks celebrating the marriage of Emperor Leopold I and Margarita, Vienna 1666. His other known subjects include architectural studies, like the Scene showing the construction of a building, and scenic views such as Gezicht op Acquapendente.

Eleven documented examples of Melchior Küsel prints are represented in major international museum collections, establishing his significance as a historical documentarian. These museum-quality works are held at prestigious institutions including the Rijksmuseum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Today, much of this historical output resides in the public domain, offering researchers and the public access to high-quality prints and downloadable artwork derived from his original engravings.