Open full image Pin

Pyrotechnia

John Droeshout

1635

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque

Dominant colour

Pyrotechnia is a 1635 ink by John Droeshout, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: John Droeshout
When & what style?: 1635 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This image is a detailed engraving packed with strange, mechanical fireworks machines. At the center sits a serious-looking man in a fancy collar and ruffled shirt. Around him are drawings of wheels, cages, and sparks shooting into the air like rockets. The top has a dramatic scene of fireworks exploding over a castle, while the sides show gears, cannons, and odd creatures spitting flames. The title at the top reads *"Pyrotechnia"*—a book about making fireworks. The text promises to explain how fireworks work, with diagrams for different shapes and machines. The man in the middle is the author, John Babington, but the artist who drew this is John Droeshout. If you like this mix of science and art, look up engraving to see how artists carved these precise lines.