Model of the Bologna Municipal Opera Theatre
Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Museo Internazionale e Biblioteca della Musica
The Municipal theatre and its wooden model were commissioned by the Municipality of Bologna (Comune di Bologna)
Museo Internazionale e Biblioteca della Musica
1756
Giovanni Battista Martorelli and Antonio Gambarini
Sculpted, painted and gilded wood
95x195x168 cm
Town Hall (?)
Woodwork, architectural model
Sec. XVIII
Bologna
This model is the faithful representation of the original project by Antonio Bibiena for the Municipal Opera Theatre of Bologna. It accurately documents the architectural structure and decorative elements of the interior. It is very important because most of these decorations were lost during the XIX century restyling.
The longitudinal section of the model shows the large stall, the stage, its architectural frame and 4 tiers of boxes as well as the gallery. Tiers of separated boxes all around the hall were an original feature of the Bibiena design specifically meant for the baroque opera theatres. This feature was adopted in the most important European theatres.
The three “architectural orders” employed on the different tiers reflect the Bolognese sober academic tradition in architecture. Wooden models like this one were made by craftsmen or sculptors following the drawings of the architect. This was common for important buildings, public monuments or cathedrals, since the Renaissance period.
About 10 years later the theatre was finally opened to the public on the 14th of May 1763 with the representation of The Triumph of Clelia by C.W. Gluck.
This is the wooden model of the Teatro Comunale of Bologna, proposed between 1755-1763 by the famous architect Antonio Bibiena, one of the last members of the Bibiena Family.
The construction of the new public theatre for the city was quite troubled and the project presented by the architect caused some polemics among the academic establishment. For that reason, the municipality asked for an accurate model of the building to be exhibited in the town hall so that all citizens could see it and express their opinion on it.
Documents
Bergamini, W. “Antonio Galli Bibiena. Nuovo teatro pubblico di Bologna 1755-1763”, L'arte del Settecento emiliano. Architettura, scenografia, pittura di paesaggio (exhibition catatlogue) (ed. A. M. Matteucci), Bologna, 1979, pp. 122-123, n. 180.
Marta Forlai "Model of the Bologna Municipal Opera Theatre" in "Discover Baroque Art", Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://baroqueart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;BAR;it;Mus12_D;39;en
MWNF Working Number: IT2 43
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