Bernardo Buontalenti
Bernardo Buontalenti | |
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Pronunciation | [berˈnardo ˌbwɔntaˈlɛnti] |
Born | c. 1531 |
Died | June 1608 |
Other names | Bernardo Delle Girandole |
Occupations | |
Known for |
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Notable work |
Bernardo Buontalenti (Italian pronunciation: [berˈnardo ˌbwɔntaˈlɛnti], c. 1531 – June 1608), byname of Bernardo Delle Girandole, was an Italian stage designer, architect, theatrical designer, military engineer, artist, and inventor of Italian ice cream.
Biography
Buontalenti was born in
His first known work is from 1568, the
In the
Despite his successes, his prodigality led Buontalenti to financial ruin; he survived in his later life thanks to a pension given him by the
Work
One of the theaters that Bernardo had built was the Theater of Baldracca (or the Theater of the Dogana). It was opened in 1576, when Bernardo was the Court Architect, and it became one of the oldest theaters in Florence. This theater, however is not like other modern theaters. In the Theater of Baldracca the stage would be raised a little, and the audience had to stand or to sit on long benches to watch the live performance. The theater also included a box with grating, that would seat very high-ranking viewers. The grating allowed the viewers to see but not to be seen. However, the theater was not very popular and was replaced by the
Another theater built by Bernardo was the Medici Theater, built for the Grand Duke Francesco I Medici. Bernardo worked at the theater between 1576 and 1586. Bernardo had employed a Mannerist and experimental architectural language for this theater, but in 1589 Bernardo had to modify the decorations to represent the authority of the
Buontalenti was involved in other Baroque theaters before his death. He also helped design stage machinery for specific performances, as well as many allegorical costumes for the Medici Theater. Finally, he was responsible for arranging spectacular fireworks displays for some of the performances.
References
- ISBN 9780571275328.
- ^ "Bernardo Buontalenti - Italian stage designer". Encyclopedia Britannica.
- ^ "Performances at the Uffizi: the history of the Medici Theatre". Virtual Uffizi Gallery.
- ^ "The theater of Baldracca, now Uffizi Gallery Library". Virtual Uffizi Gallery.
- Bryan, Michael (1886). Robert Edmund Graves (ed.). Dictionary of Painters and Engravers, Biographical and Critical. Vol. I: A-K. London: George Bell and Sons.
- Bernardo Buontalenti and the Grotta Grande of Boboli, Florence: Maschietto Editore, 2012. ISBN 978-88-6394-041-1