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carolyn hammett | all galleries >> Galleries >> Venice and Small Towns Italy May 2011 > Vicenza - Andrea Palladio - Teatro Olimpico.jpg
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14-MAY-2011

Vicenza - Andrea Palladio - Teatro Olimpico.jpg

Palladio's Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, is the oldest surviving enclosed theatre in the world.
The Teatro Olimpico was the last building designed by architect Andrea Palladio in the late Renaissance.
Built between 1580-85, it was not completed until after his death.

The trompe-l'œil scenery, shown here, was designed by Vincenzo Scamozzi, who also stepped in to finish the theater after Palladio's death.
Scamozzo also completed Palladio's most famous country residence, the Villa Rotonda, following the architect's death.

Scamozzo's scenery shows long streets receding to the distance, and gives the effect of a very deep stage,
which in fact is very shallow.
The scenery depicts streets in a city from antiquity.
All the seats in the theater have a perspective view down at least one of the streets.
The sky, shown in brilliant blue in this image, is actually that bright.

The stage set was installed in 1585 for the first theatrical performance, and is the oldest surviving stage set still in use today.

Canon Powershot G12
1/30s f/2.8 at 6.1mm iso1000 full exif

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