Niccolò Barbieri
Encyclopedia
Niccolò Barbieri (Vercelli
, 1586 - 1641) was an Italian writer and actor of the commedia dell'arte
theatrical genre. He was also known as Beltrame di Milano ("Beltrame of Milan") in reference to one of his most popular characters, Beltrame
; this was the main character of one of Barbieri's best known plays, L'inavertito, which is known to have inspired Moliere
's L'Étourdi ou Les Contretemps ("The Blunderer"). Besides popularizing Beltrame, Barbieri is also credited with creating another commedia dell'arte mask, Scapino
.
Barbieri was a successful author and actor, and one of those that toured Europe; he is known, for example, to have played at the royal court of France.
Besides plays, he wrote essays on theatre; his prominent essay is La supplica. Discorso famigliare a quelli che trattano de' comici (1634), a passionate apology of theatre and actors, which is also an important source of information on the commedia culture.
As a commedia actor, Barbieri introduced the habit of acting while standing on a chair, which is supposedly the origin of the Italian word saltimbanco (which roughly translates to "s.o. who jumps on chairs") to refer to comic actors and jesters.
Vercelli
Vercelli is a city and comune of about 47,000 inhabitants in the Province of Vercelli, Piedmont, northern Italy. One of the oldest urban sites in northern Italy, it was founded, according to most historians, around the year 600 BC.The city is situated on the river Sesia in the plain of the river...
, 1586 - 1641) was an Italian writer and actor of the commedia dell'arte
Commedia dell'arte
Commedia dell'arte is a form of theatre characterized by masked "types" which began in Italy in the 16th century, and was responsible for the advent of the actress and improvised performances based on sketches or scenarios. The closest translation of the name is "comedy of craft"; it is shortened...
theatrical genre. He was also known as Beltrame di Milano ("Beltrame of Milan") in reference to one of his most popular characters, Beltrame
Beltrame
Beltrame is a traditional character of the Italian commedia dell'arte associated to the city of Milan, and dating back to the 16th-17th century or earlier...
; this was the main character of one of Barbieri's best known plays, L'inavertito, which is known to have inspired Moliere
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
's L'Étourdi ou Les Contretemps ("The Blunderer"). Besides popularizing Beltrame, Barbieri is also credited with creating another commedia dell'arte mask, Scapino
Scapino
Scapino, Scappino, or Scapin, is a zanni character from the commedia dell'arte. His name is related to the English word "escape" in reference to his tendency to flee from fights, even those he himself begins. He has been dated to the last years of the 16th century, and his creation is sometimes...
.
Barbieri was a successful author and actor, and one of those that toured Europe; he is known, for example, to have played at the royal court of France.
Besides plays, he wrote essays on theatre; his prominent essay is La supplica. Discorso famigliare a quelli che trattano de' comici (1634), a passionate apology of theatre and actors, which is also an important source of information on the commedia culture.
As a commedia actor, Barbieri introduced the habit of acting while standing on a chair, which is supposedly the origin of the Italian word saltimbanco (which roughly translates to "s.o. who jumps on chairs") to refer to comic actors and jesters.