Farnese Theatre
PARMA, MONUMENTAL COMPLEX OF THE PILOTTA
The Farnese Theatre, housed within the Monumental Complex of the Pilotta in Parma, is one of Europe’s most important historic theatres and an extraordinary example of early seventeenth-century theatre architecture. It was commissioned by Duke Ranuccio I Farnese and built between 1617 and 1618 to a design by the Ferrara-born architect Giovanni Battista Aleotti.
Conceived as a ceremonial venue for the Farnese court, it is distinguished by the monumentality of its space, its innovative stage design and its rich decorative scheme. Built predominantly of wood, it was embellished with paintings and monumental stucco sculptures executed by Luca Retti and his workshop as part of an elaborate allegorical programme.
On 13 May 1944, the theatre was severely damaged by the bombing of the Pilotta complex. Post-war interventions made it possible to reconstruct the theatre while preserving the surviving elements of its decorative scheme.
The Restoration Project
The project focused on the restoration and enhancement of six monumental polychrome stucco sculptures – three standard-bearers, two winged figures and one female figure – belonging to the decorative scheme of the Farnese Theatre and severely damaged in the 1944 bombing. Four had already been restored in the 1970s, while two had remained in a fragmentary condition and had never undergone restoration.
The complex execution technique, combining stucco, straw, ropes, textiles and structural elements in wood and metal, required stabilisation, cleaning, consolidation and selective reintegration, accompanied by diagnostic investigations and the study of the sculptures’ execution techniques.
The three-dimensional survey of the Farnese Theatre and the 3D documentation of the sculptures also made it possible to virtually reconstruct their original placement and to investigate the relationship between the works, the architectural space and the theatre’s decorative programme.
At the end of the restoration, the six sculptures were returned to public view in a new display integrated into the museum itinerary, accompanied by digital tools dedicated to the understanding and enhancement of the works.
Collaborations
Supervision Director Stefano L’Occaso, Monumental Complex of the Pilotta
Technical and operational project coordination Paola Potenza, conservator-restorer, for the Isabel and Balz Baechi Foundation
Works supervision Gisella Pollastro, conservator-restorer
Restoration work Elena Zichichi, conservator-restorer, Elena Russo, conservator-restorer
X-ray investigations University of Parma, Department of Veterinary Science
3D survey and digital model of the Farnese Theatre Arch. Andrea Zerbi, Arch. Sandra Mikolajewska, University of Parma, Department of Engineering and Architecture
Virtual models of the sculptures Marco Amenta, Salvatore Passarello
Photographic and video content Marta Mambriani
Technical and operational support Il Parmense Trasporti S.r.l., Federico Ratti, conservator-restorer, Antony Cerutti, conservator-restorer
Press Review
Artribune “Conservation and innovation at the Farnese Theatre in Parma: six masterpieces of European Baroque sculpture return to the light”
1 July 2025. Reference link
Finestre sull’Arte “Parma: restoration begins on six important Baroque statues from the Farnese Theatre” 25 June 2025. Reference link
Il Giornale dell’Arte “Open restoration of six statues from Parma’s Farnese Theatre” Davide Landoni, 26 June 2025. Reference link
Monumental Complex of the Pilotta “Restoration project for six sculptures from the Farnese Theatre presented” 27 June 2025. Reference link
Gazzetta di Parma “Seventeenth-century sculptures restored at Parma’s Farnese Theatre” Video, 25 June 2025. Reference link
Sky Arte “Six sculptures from Parma’s magnificent Farnese Theatre undergo restoration” 3 July 2025. Reference link
ArtsLife “Between War and Peace: the restoration of the forgotten Farnese sculptures” Davide Ortes, 7 July 2025. Reference link
Finestre sull’Arte “Parma: six sculptures from the Farnese Theatre at the Pilotta restored” 4 March 2026. Reference link