Design for Stage Set 1698 - 1765

This stage set design was made by Giovanni Battista Natali III using pen and brown ink with gray wash. Look at the arches and columns, the classical language that defines them. These forms are not merely architectural; they carry centuries of accumulated meaning, resonating with Roman grandeur and Renaissance ideals. Consider the arch; from ancient triumphal arches to the vaulted ceilings of churches, it symbolizes passage, transition, and aspiration. Notice how the repetition of the arch creates a sense of depth, almost pulling us into the scene. It echoes the arches found in Roman aqueducts and basilicas, spaces of power and communal gathering. The column, too, has a long lineage, representing strength and stability. These symbols persist, not as static relics, but as living forms constantly reinterpreted. They tap into our collective memory, evoking feelings of awe, order, and perhaps, a longing for a bygone era. These shapes evolve, yet the underlying human emotions they trigger remain potent.