A Popular Handbook to the National Gallery, Volume I, Foreign Schools / Including by Special Permission Notes Collected from the Works of John Ruskin

by Unknown

936. THE FARNESE THEATRE, PARMA.

Ferdinando Bibiena (Bolognese: 1657-1743).

Ferdinando Galli, called Bibiena, was one of a family of artists who came from a place of that name in the Bolognese State. He was a celebrated architect and scenic artist. He was engaged at many of the European courts in the arrangement of state pageants. He executed several works for Ranuccio Farnese, Duke of Parma. His architectural and perspective views are to be seen in the principal galleries in Italy. In these the figures are usually painted by his brother Francesco. Ferdinando, who published several works on architecture, became blind in his old age.

A scene in the theatre with Othello being played. The pit is unseated; it is a kind of "promenade play."