Balthasar Friedrich Leizelt (active c. 1750–1800) was a German copperplate engraver and printmaker, based primarily in Augsburg, renowned for his vue d'optique perspective prints depicting cityscapes, landscapes, and historical events. These hand-colored engravings were designed for viewing through optical devices such as zograscopes, which enhanced their three-dimensional effect, and were popular across Europe for entertainment and education during the late 18th century.
Leizelt's career centered on the creation of scenic views published by the Academie Imperiale in Augsburg, often as part of the Collection des Prospects series, which included both European and imagined American scenes.[1] Lacking direct references for distant locales, he frequently adapted existing European imagery, resulting in stylized and sometimes fictitious representations that prioritized visual appeal over topographical accuracy.[3] His works encompassed a wide range of subjects, from peaceful urban harbors to dramatic naval battles, reflecting contemporary interests in global exploration and the American Revolutionary War.
Among Leizelt's most notable contributions are his depictions of colonial North America, such as Neu Yorck–Vüe De La Nouvelle Yorck (c. 1775), an imagined panoramic view of New York featuring ships, wharves, and a customs house, and Vuë de Salem (1770s), showing the waterfront of Salem, Massachusetts, with workers and vessels.[1] He also illustrated wartime events, including The Unlucky Loss of the French Warships Quebec and Surveillant (c. 1779) and The Memorable Combat between the Bonhomme Richard and the Serapis (c. 1780), capturing key moments of naval engagements during the Revolution.[1] These prints, produced in editions for international sale, highlight Leizelt's role in disseminating visual narratives of the era to European audiences.