The Seventy-first FIGURE.
A Theater representing the Marriage of Cana in Galilee, erected in the Jesuits Church at Rome, in the Year 1685; for the Solemnity of exposing the Holy Sacrament.
From the foregoing Preparations, is drawn the Perspective of this noble Piece of Architecture; which struck the Eye when seen by Day-light, but was more especially surprizing by Candle-light; many of the Candles being expos’d to Sight, and others altogether hidden, to illuminate the six different Ranges of Scenes, of which the whole Work consisted, without reckoning that in the midst of the great Arch, representing Clouds fill’d with Angels adoring the blessed Sacrament. Those Clouds are here omitted, that the inner Parts of the Work might be the better seen. In disposing the several Ranges of Scenes, the same Method was observ’d, which was deliver’d in the Sixty-first and Sixty-second Figures; and great Care was also taken in their Distances, that the Candles plac’d on the Back of one of them might illuminate the Face of the other behind it. Moreover, each Scene consisted of as many parts, as there were principal Members in the two greater Façades; so that the Joints were scarcely discernible: and some Pairs of them being coupl’d with Hinges, folded and unfolded, for the more easy managing and preserving them.
I doubt not but those who have follow’d me thus far, will be encourag’d so to prosecute their Studies, as to be able to design even greater and more noble Works, than these of mine.
Fig. lxxii.
FIGURA Septuagesimasecunda.
De theatris scenicis.