In the Library: Setting the Scene with Theater Architecture and Set Design

June 22 – October 2, 2015
East Building, Study Center Library

Noach van der Meer, engraving in Jan Fokke (1745–1812), *Historie van den Nieuwen Amsterdamschen Schouwburg (Amsterdam, 1775)*, National Gallery of Art Library, David K. E. Bruce Fund.

This exhibition is no longer on view at the National Gallery.

Overview: From amphitheaters of the ancient world to the digitally outfitted entertainment centers of today, the theater venue is constantly evolving. But in the 18th and 19th centuries, theaters presented unique problems for architects. While excellent acoustics were critical, so was design, as a theater was meant to represent the modern city in which it stood yet also serve as a lasting and noble reflection of that city's cultural patrimony. This focus installation recounts the comedy and drama that unfolded during this pivotal era in architecture and design as told through a collection of nearly two dozen rare books.

Organization: Organized by National Gallery of Art, Washington

Brochure: In the Library: Setting the Scene with Theater Architecture and Set Design by Yuri Long. Washington, D.C.: National Gallery of Art, 2015.