# Imperial box [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [MEDUNA, Giovanni Battista]() - Date: 1801-1850 - Technique: Photo ## Commentary Venice's famous theatre was destroyed by a fire in 1836, but it was quickly rebuilt in 1837 by the Meduna brothers, Giovanni Battista and Tommaso. The imperial box was decorated in 1854 using a design by Meduna. The decoration of the rebuilt theatre was exuberant with flowering garlands all over the place and a jungle of branches and gilding that reached a climax in the imperial box at the centre of the auditorium. Unfortunately, the box was destroyed in the fire of 29 January 1996. ## Related artworks - [Staircase]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()