The Teatro
Olimpico, translated from Italian as Olympic
Theater, is a spectacular Renaissance Theatre located in Vicenza, a town
near Venice, Italy. It is a hidden gem built inside an abandoned fortress and
prison, yet one of Vicenza’s artistic wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is considered the absolute climax of creativity of one of the greatest
Italian Architects, Andrea Palladio (who was openly inspired by the Roman theaters described by Vitruvius).2
Tetro Olympic designed by Andrea Palladio. |
The beginning of
the theatre can be traced back to 1580, the year in which Andrea Palladio, at
the age of 72, was commissioned a permanent theatre by the Accademia Olimpica –
a group of scholars in Vicenza who sought to recreate the theatrical
productions of classical antiquity, onto which he belonged to himself.1 The 16th
century in Italy was an era of rising popularity for the performing arts.
Theaters grew popular not only as a cultural form but as a mode of
entertainment. Although theatrical productions existed beforehand, they mostly
consisted of religious enactments staged on temporary platforms in outdoor spaces.3
However, with the Teatro Olimpico, performances were successfully brought
indoors, fortunately, due to Palladio’s studies of the writings of the ancient
Roman architect Vitruvius; whose Ten Books on Architecture explained how to construct a theater with its set
decorations. Palladio’s design was made just a few months before his death,
therefore he never saw the project’s finish, which was carried out and oversaw
by his son Silla till its completion in 1583.
Considering
Palladio’s design was inspired by Vitruvius’ analysis on theatres, acknowledging
its site, foundations and acoustics, the result was of an elliptical terrace circled
by numerous “increasing circular waves…spreading indefinitely from the centre”
(the ascending rows of seats in theatres as described by Vitruvius).4 In
addition, the elliptical terraced auditorium is framed by a colonnade, with a
frieze topped by statues. The stage itself is rectangular and perpendicular to
a resplendent proscenium with two orders of architecture, and opened by three
arcades. In between each opening there is a niche with statues of academics. The
proscenium is also divided into 3 tiers: The bottom tier opens into the central
triumphal arch (porta regia) and the
two smaller side openings (hospitalia)
beside it, the middle tier has niches with statues of scholars and the top tier
has a series of metopes portraying the achievements of Hercules.2
Proscenium at the Teatro Olimpico. |
Each
of the seven opening on the proscenium grants visual access to projected
avenues, conveying the appearance of a city.
Using linear perspective, these hallways heighten the illusion by using
forced perspective, which increases a fictional sense of depth. These perspectival
passageways are quite unique to the Olimpico.1
Plan of Teatro Olimpico illustrating the seven passageways. |
Parallel
to the seating region, the ceiling plane is undistinguishable and was later
painted blue with scattered clouds suggesting an open sky above the theater, as
preceding theaters had been. In contrast to the soft ceiling above the spectators,
the ceiling above the theater’s stage is elaborately articulated with architectural
details and statues made of wood and plaster. In fact, Palladio and Vicenzo Scamozzi worked with very limited materials, but managed to build this
marvelous theater using wood, plaster and stucco, ultimately creating the
effect of white, polished marble.1
Contrast of ceiling between the soft blue skies and detailed ceiling plate above the stage. |
On
March 3, 1585, Teatro Olimpico was inaugurated with the memorable production of
Sophocles’ Oedipus the King. Unfortunately,
despite its captivating qualities, the Teatro Olimpici quickly neglected after
the first production. Its influence is substantial, nonetheless, in two
northern Italian theaters built shortly after the Olimpico: the 1590 Teatro all’antica
in Sabbioneta, and the 1618 Teatro Farnese in parma. Through it all, this
unique Renaissance theater has miraculously survived for over four centuries
and gives shape to the period’s knowledge of classical Roman architecture and
puts into practice contemporary artistic developments like linear perspective.
It is now considered the oldest Renaissance and oldest enclosed theater in
Italy.
1 Berzal De Dios, Javier, DR. "Khan Academy." Khan Academy. Khan Academy, n.d. Web.
2 "Vicenza's Teatro Olimpico (Olympic
Theatre)." Italian Tourism Official Website. Italian Tourism Official
Website, 23 Mar. 2015. Web.
3 "The Teatro
Olimpico." Visit Palladio. Visit Palladio, n.d. Web.
4 Pollio, Vitruvius. 3: THE THEATRE: ITS
SITE, FOUNDATIONS AND ACOUSTICSTHE THEATRE: ITS SITE, FOUNDATIONS AND ACOUSTICS.
Vitruvius: The Ten Books on Architecture. Trans. M. H. Morgan. New York: Dover
Publications, 1960. N. pag. Print.
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