Set design for Brecht's Galileo

June twenty second, sixteen thirty three,
A momentous day for you and me.
Of all the days that was the one
An age of reason could have begun.

This is the poem that begins scene twelve of Brecht's play Galileo. It summarizes the action of the plays climatic scene and is the basis for my approach. My interest in this play comes from historical significance of the events it is based upon. It takes us to a time when emerging science clashed with the fate-based dictums of scripture. The set is based on a painting done in 1627 by Julius Shiller called Coelum Stellatum Christianum. The painting was an attempt to Christianize the pagan images depicted in earlier constellations. This painting is used as a celestial sphere; a sphere that encompasses the earth and gives form to the heavenly bodies. The world of the play exists within the confines of this sphere. With his telescope Galileo's eyes are opened to a different world. The telescope the vehicle that enables him to see the universe as it is; as we see it today. The set becomes a visual metaphor for a 17th century man's struggle to understand the heavens. As the play progresses more and more of the telescope's view is revealed. At the end of the play we see the celestial sphere of the church patched up. The world of the play comes full circle. The truth has been stifled

The Christianized Heavens
Coelum Stellatum Christianum
Julius Shiller
1627

Show portal This image was taken from the original painting to form the set's show portal.
Behind the show portal is a dome with the top half of the celestial sphere painted on it. This dome functions as the "sky" throughout the play. The play begins with the image intact. As the scenes progress and Galileo learns more about the heliocentric arrangement of the solar system and parts of the image are removed. Dome backdrop
Jupiter Moon As parts of the Christianized heavens are removed, the audience can see more and more of Jupiter and the moon through the holes in the dome.
This is a rendering of the entire set. It is a collage of images copied from my research. The two figures standing on the set are dressed in costumes that I designed for the show. The collage is made with several layers of mat board. Layered paper rendering
Computer rendering of Set This is the final set rendering which was done in 3D Studio. I have since learned how to incorporate clothed figures in my 3D models.
:-)

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