Friedrich Nicolai über ein Feuerwerk im Prater:

Between 1773 and 1799 Johann Georg Stuwer staged pyrotechnical displays on mythological themes or renderings of battle scenes (The Siege of Vienna, 1783) as well as current events, all of which were extremely popular and drew crowds of up to 25,000 to the Prater. On these days an admission fee was charged. Events of this kind represented the transition between courtly and middle-class festive culture. Friedrich Nicolai provides an account of one of these firework displays in the Prater in his Reise durch Deutschland und die Schweiz (Journey through Germany and Switzerland):

‘The earth trembles, the woods echo with deafening thunderclaps; cities, palaces, fortresses, gardens, temples, fountains etc., appear, all in many and changing hues of fire, lighting up the surrounding area.’