The Theatre of the Arts: Thomas Hope's Visionary Gallery Remediated

PI: Sophie Thomas

Collaborator: Noah Pedinelli

"The “Theatre of the Arts” was the most unusual of Hope’s 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 ‘seats,’ regarding the visitor who—passing 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—momentarily occupies the ‘stage.’ 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."

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