A Marore, near Parma, Ennemond-Alexandre Petitot (1727-1801), from 1753 architect of the ducal buildings and teacher at the Academy of Fine Arts of Parma, chose his residence “in villa.” The house, still existing and inhabited, almost miraculously preserves an intact small theater, certainly designed by the architect, whose figurative taste can be found in the surviving decorations. Located in the attic, in a rectangular room of modest size, it has a stage framed by two pillars while the backdrop is divided into three parts by four wooden Doric columns painted to resemble marble, which on the sides frame the beautiful monochromes with statues of Apollo and Minerva. These monochromes are painted on two panels that, when removed, open the view onto a landscape with a city view (painted on the back wall). A frieze with putti completes, at the top, the scene. Particularly interesting and of high pictorial quality is the ceiling where a velarium is imitated around which putti, garlands, and festoons intertwine. The room, furnished with the original wooden benches and buffet cabinets, is illuminated by three windows, two of which overlook the garden partially laid out as a labyrinth according to the ancient design.
Information about Teatrino di Villa Petitot
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43121 Parma (Parma)
Source: MIBACT
