Nicola Sabbatini
Encyclopedia
Nicola Sabbatini also known as Niccolò Sabbatini or Nicola Sabbattini, was an Italian architect
of the Baroque
.
A native of Pesaro
, he was extremely influential at the time for his pioneering and inventive designs of theaters, stage sets, lighting
and stage machinery. Working in the court of the Dukes of Urbino, he was among the first designers of sophisticated machines which created realistic visual and sound effect
s such as the sea (the column wave
machine)http://lyc-du-bois.scola.ac-paris.fr/page12.html, storm
s, thunder
, lightning
s, fire, hell
, flying gods and clouds, etc. He wrote one of the most important books on how to construct and use a number of devices, scenes and machinery for the stage, Pratica di fabricar scene e macchine ne‘ teatri, which was published in 1638 http://www.martayanlan.com/cgi-bin/display.cgi/Books/5/30/2/505. The internal architecture of theaters, such as plans for building seats for the audience, was also advanced by Sabbatini.
Sabbatini developed and described a number of novel stage lighting techniques, such as dimming
mechanism to darken the whole stage, directed spotlights for illuminating certain parts of the stage (it is believed that he invented the first reflector spotlight, by attaching a polished basin
behind a light source) and several others, thus effectively being, together with Sebastiano Serlio
and Leone de Somi, one of the creators of stage lighting for dramatic purposes, including scripting lighting changes in synchronization with the play or opera. He developed a number of acoustic effects machinery, such as a "thunder box", a contraption which had heavy (15 kg) iron or stone balls which rolled down a case of wooden stairs when the effect was called for.
Sabbatini learned about theories on perspective
by the mathematician
and philosopher Guidobaldo del Monte
, which had been published in his Perspectivae Libri VI at Pisa
in 1600. Asked to design the sets and stage machines in 1637 for a play in the Teatro del Sole in Pesaro, he used this knowledge to achieve perspective effects.
Among his many inventions devised for the design of more realistic decorations in the stage, he developed ways of quickly changing painted scenes, using several methods:
These innovations created surprising and marvelous illusion
istic effects, which came to be known as scènes á l'italienne.
In his researches on perspective for the sets, he defined the so-called œil du prince
("the eye of the prince"), as the ideal seat in the theatre's audience that affords the best possible perspective on the sets http://www.bl.uk/treasures/festivalbooks/stagingtheatre.html. In a chapter in his book, he describes ‘How to Place the Prince's Seat’, where ‘all the objects in the scene appear better... than from any other place’. It is located approximately in the middle of the seventh row and it is a coveted place.
Besides his important work in theatrical stage engineering, Sabbatini participated also as an architect and decorator in several of Pesaro's buildings, such as in the Palazzo Ducale, built by Duke Francesco Maria II della Rovere
. Inside this building, he projected and built the Vecchio Teatro di Corte (old court theatre), which was later demolished. Later, he was commissioned by a group of Pesaro citizens to build the new Teatro del Sole (Sun Theater), which was inaugurated in 1637. Sabbatini was involved in the project of the new sea port of Pesaro and contributed to some works of art
, such as in the design of three articulated panels painted by Giovanni Giacomo Pandolfi
in the Nome di Dio oratory
, also in Pesaro.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
of the Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
.
A native of Pesaro
Pesaro
Pesaro is a town and comune in the Italian region of the Marche, capital of the Pesaro e Urbino province, on the Adriatic. According to the 2007 census, its population was 92,206....
, he was extremely influential at the time for his pioneering and inventive designs of theaters, stage sets, lighting
Lighting
Lighting or illumination is the deliberate application of light to achieve some practical or aesthetic effect. Lighting includes the use of both artificial light sources such as lamps and light fixtures, as well as natural illumination by capturing daylight...
and stage machinery. Working in the court of the Dukes of Urbino, he was among the first designers of sophisticated machines which created realistic visual and sound effect
Sound effect
For the album by The Jam, see Sound Affects.Sound effects or audio effects are artificially created or enhanced sounds, or sound processes used to emphasize artistic or other content of films, television shows, live performance, animation, video games, music, or other media...
s such as the sea (the column wave
Column wave
The column wave is a 16th century stage machine created to mimic movement of the ocean.Developed by Nicola Sabbatini, the machine was an effective way to give the appearance of a wave-filled sea. It was used to great effect through the following centuries...
machine)http://lyc-du-bois.scola.ac-paris.fr/page12.html, storm
Storm
A storm is any disturbed state of an astronomical body's atmosphere, especially affecting its surface, and strongly implying severe weather...
s, thunder
Thunder
Thunder is the sound made by lightning. Depending on the nature of the lightning and distance of the listener, thunder can range from a sharp, loud crack to a long, low rumble . The sudden increase in pressure and temperature from lightning produces rapid expansion of the air surrounding and within...
, lightning
Lightning
Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
s, fire, hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
, flying gods and clouds, etc. He wrote one of the most important books on how to construct and use a number of devices, scenes and machinery for the stage, Pratica di fabricar scene e macchine ne‘ teatri, which was published in 1638 http://www.martayanlan.com/cgi-bin/display.cgi/Books/5/30/2/505. The internal architecture of theaters, such as plans for building seats for the audience, was also advanced by Sabbatini.
Sabbatini developed and described a number of novel stage lighting techniques, such as dimming
Dimmer
Dimmers are devices used to vary the brightness of a light. By decreasing or increasing the RMS voltage and, hence, the mean power to the lamp, it is possible to vary the intensity of the light output...
mechanism to darken the whole stage, directed spotlights for illuminating certain parts of the stage (it is believed that he invented the first reflector spotlight, by attaching a polished basin
Bowl (vessel)
A bowl is a common open-top container used in many cultures to serve food, and is also used for drinking and storing other items. They are typically small and shallow, although some, such as punch bowls and salad bowls, are larger and often intended to serve many people.Bowls have existed for...
behind a light source) and several others, thus effectively being, together with Sebastiano Serlio
Sebastiano Serlio
Sebastiano Serlio was an Italian Mannerist architect, who was part of the Italian team building the Palace of Fontainebleau...
and Leone de Somi, one of the creators of stage lighting for dramatic purposes, including scripting lighting changes in synchronization with the play or opera. He developed a number of acoustic effects machinery, such as a "thunder box", a contraption which had heavy (15 kg) iron or stone balls which rolled down a case of wooden stairs when the effect was called for.
Sabbatini learned about theories on perspective
Perspective (graphical)
Perspective in the graphic arts, such as drawing, is an approximate representation, on a flat surface , of an image as it is seen by the eye...
by the mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
and philosopher Guidobaldo del Monte
Guidobaldo del Monte
Guidobaldo del Monte , Marquis del Monte, was an Italian mathematician, philosopher and astronomer of the 16th century.- Biography :...
, which had been published in his Perspectivae Libri VI at Pisa
Pisa
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
in 1600. Asked to design the sets and stage machines in 1637 for a play in the Teatro del Sole in Pesaro, he used this knowledge to achieve perspective effects.
Among his many inventions devised for the design of more realistic decorations in the stage, he developed ways of quickly changing painted scenes, using several methods:
- Angle wings: flat panels at the sides of the stage, which were turned like pages in a book;
- Periaktoi: painted panels on the faces of standing triangles, which were turned around;
- Sliding shutters, which were moved on grooves in the floor;
- Roller curtains: the scene unrolled from above, over a previous one;
- PortcullisPortcullisA portcullis is a latticed grille made of wood, metal, fibreglass or a combination of the three. Portcullises fortified the entrances to many medieval castles, acting as a last line of defence during time of attack or siege...
: sliding flat scene that rose rapidly from underneath the stage using counterweights.
These innovations created surprising and marvelous illusion
Illusion
An illusion is a distortion of the senses, revealing how the brain normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation. While illusions distort reality, they are generally shared by most people....
istic effects, which came to be known as scènes á l'italienne.
In his researches on perspective for the sets, he defined the so-called œil du prince
Œil du prince
L'œil du prince is a French expression popularized by Nicola Sabbatini , an Italian stage designer and architect of the Renaissance in his famous treatise published in 1638. It is an imaginary point in the audience of a theatre, located in its central axis, approximately 0.6 m above the stage,...
("the eye of the prince"), as the ideal seat in the theatre's audience that affords the best possible perspective on the sets http://www.bl.uk/treasures/festivalbooks/stagingtheatre.html. In a chapter in his book, he describes ‘How to Place the Prince's Seat’, where ‘all the objects in the scene appear better... than from any other place’. It is located approximately in the middle of the seventh row and it is a coveted place.
Besides his important work in theatrical stage engineering, Sabbatini participated also as an architect and decorator in several of Pesaro's buildings, such as in the Palazzo Ducale, built by Duke Francesco Maria II della Rovere
Francesco Maria II della Rovere
Francesco Maria II della Rovere was the last Duke of Urbino.- Biography :Born at Pesaro, Francesco Maria was the son of Guidobaldo II della Rovere, Duke of Urbino, Count of Montefeltro and Vittoria Farnese, Princess of Parma...
. Inside this building, he projected and built the Vecchio Teatro di Corte (old court theatre), which was later demolished. Later, he was commissioned by a group of Pesaro citizens to build the new Teatro del Sole (Sun Theater), which was inaugurated in 1637. Sabbatini was involved in the project of the new sea port of Pesaro and contributed to some works of art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
, such as in the design of three articulated panels painted by Giovanni Giacomo Pandolfi
Giovanni Giacomo Pandolfi
Giovanni Giacomo Pandolfi was an Italian painter, who was born and lived in Pesaro. He studied with Federico and Taddeo Zuccari, but was strongly influenced by another artist, Federico Barocci...
in the Nome di Dio oratory
Oratory (worship)
An oratory is a Christian room for prayer, from the Latin orare, to pray.-Catholic church:In the Roman Catholic Church, an oratory is a structure other than a parish church, set aside by ecclesiastical authority for prayer and the celebration of Mass...
, also in Pesaro.
External links
- Nicola Sabbatini's dimmer. Stage Lighting Museum.
- History of Theatrical Illumination. Wow Essays.
- Early Illusionistic Scene Changes. In: The Development of Scenic Spectacle. This excellent article shows 5 of the major Sabbatini's inventions, with QuickTimeQuickTimeQuickTime is an extensible proprietary multimedia framework developed by Apple Inc., capable of handling various formats of digital video, picture, sound, panoramic images, and interactivity. The classic version of QuickTime is available for Windows XP and later, as well as Mac OS X Leopard and...
animations and descriptions.