Opera--Set designs. Raccolta di scene teatrali eseguite o disegnate dai più celebri Pittori Scenici in Milano, 1820s

OPERA--LA SCALA.

Raccolta di Scene Teatrali eseguite o disegnate dai più celebri Pittori Scenici in Milano, Milan: Stanislao Stucchi ed i principali Negozti di Stampe, [mainly c.1817-1826]

1 volume, oblong 4to (c.21 x 29cm), engraved title and 154 aquatints, the plates numbered 1 to 100, but with many additions, showing set designs by Sanquirico and others for operas and ballets at La Scala Milan, including by Mozart (Don Giovanni, La clemenza di Tito), Rossini (La gazza ladra, Tancredi, Semiramide), Donizetti (Chiara e Serafina), Meyerbeer, Mayr, Mercadante, Pacini and others, one showing the audience on their feet during a ballet at La Scala, engraved title with device, aquatints by Stucchi, Zucchi, Rossi et., after Angeli, Landini, Carolina Lose, Raineri and others, nineteenth-century green blind-stamped cloth, gilt title to spine, modern printed plate list, some staining and a few small tears to lower margin, light foxing, corners rubbed but sound

These are finely produced aquatints, illustrating some of the same La Scala productions as the larger coloured lithographs of Sanquirico, whose designs they mostly reproduce. There does not seem to be a fixed plate order or number for Stucchi's collections. The OPAC Catalogo SBN asks for 100 plates, but copies have appeared at auction containing anywhere between 50 and 300 aquatints. This copy lacks plates numbered 8, 19, 28, 34, 41, 54, 55, 95 and 97; however plate numbers 11, 16, 17, 21, 22, 32, 37 and 39 are each used three times and many are used twice. 

LITERATURE:

cf IT\ICCU\LO1E\046225; IT\ICCU\VIA\0227355;