Domenico Beccafumi e il suo tempo
Domenico Beccafumi e il suo tempo (1)

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




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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)
Piero Castiglioni