Design for Stage Set 1698 - 1765

Giovanni Battista Natali III made this stage set design with pen, ink and wash on paper. The drawing shows a symmetrical architectural space with receding arches and classical columns. Natali was working at a time when theatrical productions in Italy were elaborate affairs, closely tied to aristocratic patronage and civic identity. Stage design served not just as backdrop, but as a potent symbol of power and sophistication. This design, with its grandiose scale and baroque ornamentation, evokes the aspirations of the ruling elite. By studying archival material such as theater programs, financial records, and personal correspondence, one can understand the intricate network of social relations that shaped artistic production in this era. The study of art is inevitably an entry point into the world of social and institutional history.