Domenico Beccafumi e il suo tempo
1. general view of the central nave of Saint Augustine´s church in Siena, with
counterpoised angular walls to offer pauses for reflection and assembly. The overhead
lighting system, set along the cornice, is directed only at the exhibition panels so as
to avoid visual interference
Saint Augustin´s Church in Siena by Vanvitelli has a unique,
white central nave leading off into side chapels enclosed between columns and pilaster strip,
and perimetrically bordored by a 15-metre high cornice-gallery, sourmonted by the large windows
of the clestory, that make for substantial natural lighting contrbution to an accentuation of the
vertical character of the construction with strong chiaro-scuro effects. As for virtually all
historical buildings, a lighting system was almost non-existent: thus it was necessary to provide
a completely new and "invisible" electrical supply. The organisation of the exhibition´s iter,
not to mention the necessary equipment, studied for the nave and transept, did not permit (given
their central position well-away from the walls) the integration of lighting with the modules
supporting the works on show (but this was possible, however, for the part of the show haused
in the sacristy and side chapels). The cornice gallery was used as a support for the set of
lighting appliances studied and designed by Piero Castiglioni and produced in limited series,
by Targetti. Arranged on the same cornice-gallery are also other appliances which, furnished
with corrugated glass and coloured gelatins, project a play on colour (similar to Beccafumi´s)
on the dome above the altar, that creates the outline of a sort of undulating banner on the
surface, as though if were flapping in the wind. (l´ARCA, 43, November 1990, pp. 90-93)
Siena, Italy
(In collaboration w/ Arch. Napi Terrosi)