would be raised a little, and the audience had to stand or to sit on long benches to watch the live performance. The theater also included a box with grating, that would seat very high-ranking viewers. The grating allowed the viewers to see but not to be seen. However, the theater was not very popular and was replaced by the Uffizi Gallery Library. Another theater built by Bernardo was the Medici Theater, built for the Grand Duke Francesco I Medici. Bernardo worked at the theater between 1576 and 1586. Bernardo had employed a Mannerist and experimental architectural language for this theater, but in 1589 Bernardo had to modify the decorations to represent the authority of the Grand Duke Ferdinando I. The room structure was inspired by theaters of classical antiquity. Bernardo also included a sloped floor that allowed the audience to see better. However, when the court moved to another location, the room was left behind. Buontalenti was involved in other Baroque theaters before his death. He also helped design stage machinery for specific performances, as well as many allegorical costumes for the Medici Theater. Finally, he was responsible for arranging spectacular fireworks displays for some of the performances. References Bernardo Buontalenti and the Grotta Grande of Boboli, Florence: Maschietto Editore, 2012. Italian Mannerist architects Italian Baroque painters Italian scenic designers Theatre architects 1530s births 1608 deaths Italian Baroque people Italian male painters Italian military engineers Architects from Florence Painters from Tuscany European court festivities 16th-century Italian architects 17th-century Italian architects 16th-century Italian painters 17th-century Italian painters