Drawing for an Opera Set 1696 - 1756

This drawing for an opera set was made by Giuseppe Galli Bibiena, using pen and brown ink with brown wash over graphite underdrawing. The ink gives a light but intense presence to the built environment depicted, and the method of hatching and cross-hatching is meticulous. Look closely, and you will see the labor involved in this method, building up tone and shadow with a practiced hand. The architecture itself is fantastically ornate, with layer upon layer of embellishment. Consider that such elaborate designs could only have been commissioned by the very wealthy. The opera would have been a showcase for their power, a concentration of skilled labour and expensive materials brought together for their pleasure. Next time you see an opera, remember that the sets, like this drawing, represent a great deal of cultural work, and social meaning. This artwork encourages us to think about theatre as a grand spectacle, where all of the arts combine to create an experience of total immersion.