Stage Design- Set Proposal for a Ballet c. 1790

Bernardino Galliari’s “Stage Design- Set Proposal for a Ballet” is a pen and wash drawing on paper that was created in 1790. The drawing is a proposal for a stage design for a ballet, and it depicts a grand palace with a series of tall cypress trees in front. This artwork was likely a preliminary sketch for a production and features a perspective that is typical of Italian Renaissance architectural drawings. The design is quite detailed, with a delicate line and a muted palette, characteristic of stage design drawings of the era. This work provides insight into the creative process of designing ballet sets in the late 18th century.