L'ingranaggio e l'incanto. Per una storia multimediale dello Spettacolo. Macchine sceniche, scienza e potere nel teatro di corte del Seicento
The Gear and the Enchantment. Towards a Multimedia History of Entertainment. Stage Machinery, Science and Power in Seventeenth-Century Court Theatre
This volume explores the roots of Renaissance and Baroque theatrical magnificence, demonstrating how it was based not only on the literary rediscovery of Antiquity but also on a concrete rebirth of technique and mechanics. The legacy of Vitruvius' De architectura, interpreted as an engineering manual, provides the mathematical rigour necessary for the creation of authentic scenic wonders. The analysis focuses on the Teatro Farnese in Parma and the staging of Mercurio e Marte (1628), the opera-tournament commissioned for the wedding of Odoardo Farnese and Margherita de' Medici. A meticulous investigation of archival documents highlights the effective contribution of architects, engineers and craftsmen, whose construction skills made cutting-edge stage machinery possible. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach and integrating digital humanities - with a virtual reconstruction created in collaboration with Beatrice Cecchelli - the research transcends theoretical analysis, experimentally verifying the feasibility of the stage devices.
Cue Press