Gonzaga, Pietro, 1751-1831

Pietro di Gottardo Gonzaga (Pierre Gothard Gonzague in contemporary French sources, Пьетро Гонзага in Russian sources, 25 March 1751 – 6 August [O.S. 25 July] 1831) was an Italian theatre set designer who worked in Italy and, since 1792, in the Russian Empire. A talented vedutist, master of chiaroscuro art and trompe-l'œil optical illusions, Gonzaga was primarily known for his fantastic yet deceptively realistic stage sets, and summarized the theory and purpose of his art as music for the eyes (French: La musique des yeux): "a perspective that changes in relation to variations in musical expression." According to Ferrero, Gonzaga was the first to promote scenic design into an art "in its own right" and shake off the derided image of mere decoration devoid of art. He later aspired to become a practicing architect.