Demonstration of the `apparatus of a mobile stage for the representation of tragic, comic and satirical perspective and pulpit 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi created this etching demonstrating a mobile stage apparatus for tragedies, comedies, and satires. The stage designs reveal a fascination with classical architecture. The arches remind us of triumphal arches from ancient Rome, symbols of power and victory. We see these reappear throughout the Renaissance and Baroque periods, not only in architecture but also in paintings and sculptures, reflecting a longing for the grandeur of the past. Consider the chair depicted—its shape echoes the curule seat used by Roman magistrates, a potent symbol of authority. This motif echoes across time, seen in royal portraits and even modern designs, each time imbued with a sense of power. It’s a non-linear progression, continuously resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings.