Collection of engravings of theaters and stage sets, 1643-1763

Processed by Yasmin Damshenas in the Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT), with assistance from Megan Hahn Fraser, July 2011.; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
© 2012
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.


Descriptive Summary

Title: Collection of engravings of theaters and stage sets
Date (inclusive): 1643-1763
Collection number: 1699
Collector: Jenkins, George, 1908-2007, collector.
Extent: 1 oversize box
Abstract: The collection contains 28 engravings of theaters and stage set designs of the 17th and 18th centuries. Artists include Giacomo Torelli, Caspar Amort, Melchior and Matthäus Küsell, and Daniel Pomerade.
Language: Finding aid is written in English.
Language of the Material: Materials are in English.
Repository: University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library Special Collections for paging information.

Administrative Information

Restrictions on Access

Open for research. STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA Library Special Collections for paging information.

Restrictions on Use and Reproduction

Property rights to the physical object belong to the UC Regents. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Provenance/Source of Acquisition

Gift of George Jenkins, March 11, 1992.

Processing Note

Processed by Yasmin Damshenas in the Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT), with assistance from Megan Hahn Fraser, July 2011.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Collection of engravings of theaters and stage sets (Collection 1699). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.

UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 4232985 

Biography/History

George Clarke Jenkins (1908-2007) was a production designer and art director for both theatrical productions and feature films. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, November 19, ca. 1908-11 (sources vary), Jenkins studied architecture at the University of Pennsylvania (1929-31) and went on to work as an interior and industrial designer (1934-35) and assistant to stage designer Jo Mielziner (1937-41), before designing for his first Broadway play, Early To Bed (1943). He continued working on stage plays until 2004. His film credits include Best Years of Our Lives (1946), Wait Until Dark (1967), Klute (1971) and Presumed Innocent (1990). He also served as art director in charge of experimental color programming at CBS (1953-54) and taught motion picture design at the University of California, Los Angeles (1985-89). He was nominated for four Tony awards including for his work on the Miracle Worker and won an Academy Award for All the President's Men (1976). He died in 2007.

Scope and Content

The collection contains 28 engravings of theaters and stage set designs. There is a set of four unidentified 17th century theater designs; two hand-colored stage designs by Giacomo Torelli from the 17th century; Francesco Santurini theater decor drawings by Caspar Amort, engraved by Melchior Küsell for Medea Vendicativa (Munich 1662); three engraved plates of Daniel Pomarede showing theaters from The Universal History (1763); Venus descending among the nymphs by a 17th century Italian engraver; and 14 of a set of 23 plates by Ludovico Bonaccini, engraved by Matthäus Küsell for Il Pomo d’Oro (1668).

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects

Theaters --Stage-setting and scenery --Archival resources.

Genres and Forms of Material

engravings.

Related Material


 

Set of four engravings of 17th century theater designs, numbered 1-2 and 5-6

Scope and Content Note

  • No. 1, architectural setting features Minerva
  • No. 2, architectural setting filled with smoke and flames, figures holding serpents
  • No. 5, architectural setting, figure inscribed with caption S. Ale.
  • No. 6, architectural setting, Virgin Mary
 

Francesco Santurini. Theatre Décor, drawings by Caspar Amort, engraved by Melchior Küsell (sic).

Scope and Content Note

Four engravings of a set of six compositions. Scenes from Medea Vendicativa (Munich 1662), an opera featuring fire and fireworks commemorating the christening of Max II Emmanuel.
  • Engraving 1 of 4. Second act, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Venus and Mercury float in sky over men.
  • Engraving 2 of 4. Prologue set in Vulcan's grotto, where he and his companions forge swords for the goddess of revenge, Nemesis, shown astride a lion.
  • Engraving 3 of 4. Central arch inscribed with initials of Ferdinand Maria (1636-1679), elector of Bavaria. Underneath arch inscription indicates "laetamur in uno." Baby in cradle is Max II Emanuel.
  • Engraving 4 of 4. Act III set in Alps.
 

Daniel Pomarede. Three engraved plates showing theatres from The Universal History. London, 1763.

Scope and Content Note

  • The Mausoleum of Augustus erected in honor of Marcellus. Plate 59, volume 13, page 385
  • The Palace of Julius Caesar and the Amphitheatre of Claudius Caesar in the Campus Martis. Plate 53, volume 13, page 64.
  • The Great Circus began by Romulous, finished by Tarquin and Domitian's Naval Amphitheatre. Plate 57, volume 13, page 341.
 

Unidentified artist

Scope and Content Note

  • Unidentified 17th century Italian engraver. Venus descending among the nymphs.
 

Giacomo Torelli (artist) and Pierre Aveline (engraver). Two stage designs, hand-colored, ca.17th century.

Scope and Content Note

These engravings illustrate theatrical settings for the opera Venus Jalouse, originally known as Venere Gelosa (performed in Teatro Novissimo, Venice 1643).
  • Scene set in the king's palace. Inscription indicates engraving designed by Giacomo Torelli in Italy and etched by Pierre Aveline in Paris. Original caption: Le Palais du Roy de l'Isle de Naxos, qui est une Decorations du 2 et 3 Acte de l'Opera de Venus Jalouse representé a Venise.
  • The Royal Garden, Act III, scenes 11-13. Original caption missing from this version. Le Grand Cabinet de Lauriers, dans les Jardins du Roy de l'Isle de Naxos; c'est la derniere Decoration du troisiéme acte, et de tout l'Opera de Venus Jalouse representéa Venise.
 

Lodovico Ottavio Burnacini (artist). Il Pomo d'Oro. 14 of a set of 23 plates. Engraved by Matthäus Küsell (performed in Vienna, ca. 1668.)

Scope and Content Note

  • Pluto's court in hell. 2nd of 23 sets
  • Performers in a garden. Scene number unknown.
  • Gods at a banquet being served by satyrs and men. 3rd of 23 sets.
  • Procession of soldiers and prisoners. Scene number unknown.
  • Siege of city includes soldiers and elephants. 20th of 23 sets.
  • Courtyard in the palace of Paris. Act I, Scene 11.
  • Jupiter and Juno sit in the clouds above Paris. Act V, Scene 1.
  • Arsenal of Mars and Venus. Act III, Scene 6
  • Female figures in tree lined garden or park. 16th of 23 sets.
  • Venus floating in sky in glory above a sea shore. Act IV, Scene 4, 18th of 23 sets.
  • Two figures running along the bank of the river Xanthos. Act III, Scene 3, 12th of 23 sets.
  • Soldiers in battle. Act III Scene 11, 15th of 23 sets.
  • Neptune and Venus or Amphitrite observe a ship at sea. Act III, Scene 7, 14th of 23 sets.
  • Winged demons fly before gaping jaws which reveal Charon, the ferryman of the River Styx. 8th of 23 sets.