The Theatre of the Arts: Thomas Hope's Visionary Gallery Remediated
PI: Sophie Thomas
Collaborator: Noah Pedinelli
"The 鈥淭heatre of the Arts鈥� was the most unusual of Hope鈥檚 new galleries for the display of ancient sculpture. Its semi-circular structure, forming a half dome facing the gardens, directly imitated ancient Greek and Roman theatres. In place of spectators, however, we find statues, busts and cinerary urns occupying the 鈥榮eats,鈥� regarding the visitor who鈥攑assing through perhaps from the terrace to the small temple at one end, or to the conservatory leading back towards the main house and the more formal sculpture gallery beyond鈥攎omentarily occupies the 鈥榮tage.鈥� This central, if transitional, viewpoint (just inside the doors such that one may swivel between the gallery and garden) is captured by our 3-D recreation of the gallery."