“Stop to appreciate this detailed 18th-century engraving, which offers a vivid hand-colored tour of three magnificent European chateaux and their elaborate gardens, capturing the aristocratic grandeur of the era.”
This hand-colored engraving by Salomon Kleiner offers a grand vista of three European chateaux: Weissenstein, Pommersfeld, and Geibach. The meticulous detail captures not just the architectural grandeur of these stately homes, but also their surrounding landscapes, which were integral to their design and prestige. You can almost feel the crisp air and hear the rustle of leaves in the carefully manicured gardens. Created in 1728, this print served as more than just a picture; it was a way to disseminate images of magnificent aristocratic estates, showcasing the wealth and taste of their owners across Europe. The hand-coloring adds a vibrant touch, bringing life to the otherwise monochromatic engraving and emphasizing the verdant grounds and stately stone of the buildings. It reflects a period fascination with documenting and sharing the visual splendor of princely residences, a practice that helped define the aesthetic of the Baroque era.
- Artist
- Salomon Kleiner
- Date
- 1728
- Medium
- Engraving; hand-colored
- Location
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Dimensions
- Overall: 13 3/8 x 20 1/2 x 5/8 in. (34 x 52 x 1.6 cm)
- Collection
- Drawings and Prints
- Credit line
- Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1931
What to Notice
Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

The tiny figures strolling through the gardens, adding a sense of scale.
The intricate patterns of the parterres (formal gardens) below the chateaux.
The subtle hand-coloring that highlights architectural details and foliage.
The distinct characteristics of each of the three chateaux presented.
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Salomon Kleiner
1700–1761 · Holy Roman EmpireSalomon Kleiner masterfully captured the grandeur of 18th-century European architecture and gardens through his intricate engravings.
Further Works by Kleiner
Viererleÿ Vorstellungen angenehm-und zierlicher Grundrisse folgender Lustgärten ausser der Residenz-Stadt Wienn..
1725 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Residences Memorables de l'Incomporable Heros de Nôtre Siècle, ou Edifices et Jardins de Son Altesse Serenissime Monsigneur Le Prince Eugene François de Savoye et de Piedmont
1731 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
More works to explore
Beyond Kleiner: works from the same years.
Same era · 1710s–1740s
Samuel Bradford (1652–1731), Master (1716–1724), Bishop of Rochester (1723–1731)
John Theodore Heins · 1729 · Corpus Christi College
Same era · 1710s–1740s
Venus and Cupid
Adriaen van der Werff · 1716 · Czartoryski Museum
Same era · 1710s–1740s
Sr. Hudibras, His Passing Worth, The Manner How He Sally'd Forth": Twelve Large Illustrations for Samuel Butler's Hudibras, Plate 2
William Hogarth · 1725 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1710s–1740s
Two Pieces of Embroidery
Philippe de la Salle · 1723 · Cleveland Museum of Art
