A 17th Century Dimmer
Nicola Sabbatini’s “Instructions for the Manufacture of Scenery and Stage Machines”
(Practica De Fabricar Scene E Machine Ne’teatri, 1638) describes the practice of
scenery and lighting at the close of the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th
century in Italy.
The book includes a description of lighting methods and equipment. Chapter 12,
“How To Darken The Whole Stage In A Moment”, describes and illustrates a dimming
mechanism. When the cylinders were lowered on the lamps, which were placed
off-stage, out of the view of the audience, a sudden darkness magically enveloped the
stage
