In 1752/53 the Venetian Giovanni Battista Tiepolo created the famous ceiling fresco with the four continents in the staircase hall of the Würzburg Residence. Following the completion of the restoration in 2006, this European masterpiece is presented for the first time on the basis of new colour photos. The authors describe the significance and composition of the fresco and explain how Tiepolo designed and produced it, as well as how it was restored.