PATTE, Pierre
(b. 1723, Paris, d. Mantes, 1814)

Plate II from Essai sur l'Architecture Théâtrale

1782
Engraving
Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris

Patte made an influential contribution to the design of theatres with his Essai sur l'Architecture Théâtrale (1782). He applied principles of sight-lines and acoustics to determine the ellipse as the best shape for auditoria, and he used a comparative analysis of existing theatres and books on theatre design to generate design standards.

The engraving was made by Pierre Nicolas Ransonnette (1745–1810).