The Performing Venue: The Visual Play of Italian Courtly Theatres in the Sixteenth Century

Sixteenth-century Italian courtly theatres, including those in Rome, Florence, Sabbioneta, and Parma, were designed as dynamic performers themselves, leveraging elaborate decoration schemes to create profound visual effects on viewers. This study shifts focus from the actors and performances within these venues to the agency of their architectural and decorative elements, revealing how these spaces functioned as integral components of courtly spectacle. By analyzing the visual play of these theatres, the research underscores their role in shaping the aesthetic and political narratives of Renaissance courts, offering a fresh perspective on the intersection of architecture, art, and power.

Hermans, L. (2010). The Performing Venue: The Visual Play of Italian Courtly Theatres in the Sixteenth Century. Art History, 33(2), 292–303. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8365.2010.00744.x