An engraving of a boat rowed by eight wild men in grass skirts and pants. The figure-head of the boat is the face of a monstrous swordfish with a crown. The extended "sword" is cut off. The scaled body of the fish makes up the hull of the boat and its long, curled tail is the stern. Two men, one a trumpeter and the other a drummer, stand behind the rowers.
From the Italian libretto, 'La gloria d'Amore spettacolo festivo fatto rappresentare dal serenissimo Sig. duca di Parma sopra l'acque della gran peschiera novamente fatta nel suo giardino per gl'acclamati sponsali del serenissimo Sig. principe Odoardo suo primo genito con la serenissima signora principessa Dorotea Sofia di Neoburgo ; dedicato a' serenissimi sposi' (Parma: Nella Stampa ducale, 1690), by Bernardo Sabadini. The text was an opera performed in celebration of Odoardo, Prince of Parma, and Dorotea Sofia of Neuburg. Made up of three acts, it was performed without music.
This engraving was made after an aquatic theatrical entertainment structure designed and drafted by the Mauri brothers Gasparo, Pietro, and Domenico of Venice who were the "ingegneri e inventori delle peote, e machine nell'acque [engineers and inventors of water machines]."
