Lazienki, Amphitheatre

The summer theatre, modelled on theatres of the antiquity (the theatre in Herkulanum), with an amphitheatre auditorium built on a semi-circle and a stage on an island, was situated south of the Palace on Water. It was built in the years 1790-1793, probably designed by Jan Chrystian Kamsetzer. The sculptures were designed by Andre le Brun and carved by Tomasz Righi.

The stage, which is separated from the auditorium by water, was equipped with permanent decoration imitating the ruins of an ancient temple; the parttern for these ruins was found in the Baalbek temple in Syria, which is renowned for its sculptures. The orchestra pit was built in front of the stage. The attic of the Amphitheatre is decorated with sixteen seated figures facing the audience.

Tks to Rick for sharing his photo.

Author by Elzbieta Kowalewska, Cracow,1996.