La comédienne dell’arte et son public au XVIIe siècle : un modèle dramaturgique et sa réception

The article aims to study the first professional Italian actresses from the end of the sixteenth century to the early seventeenth century, and makes several hypotheses about female spectators. However, because of the lack of any direct female first-hand accounts about the actresses at that time, the...

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Main Author: Cécile Berger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Institut du Monde Anglophone 2022-12-01
Series:Etudes Epistémè
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journals.openedition.org/episteme/15924
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author Cécile Berger
author_facet Cécile Berger
author_sort Cécile Berger
collection DOAJ
description The article aims to study the first professional Italian actresses from the end of the sixteenth century to the early seventeenth century, and makes several hypotheses about female spectators. However, because of the lack of any direct female first-hand accounts about the actresses at that time, the analysis tries to define the contours of their audience through the repertory of these actresses. The contemporary male gaze makes it possible to get some information about the expressiveness of the actress, whether it comes from post-Tridentine Church detractors and censors, or from admirers and/or fellow actors. But the rivalry between actresses is also revealing of a first female gaze that determines the subsequent interpretation and dramatic style of the heiresses. The first spectator of the actress is actually the actress herself, who imitates her rivals in order to outdo them in virtuosity. As the actress is sometimes presented as a possible role model for other women, this suggests that women were part of the audience of the theatre companies, in which the first actresses were performing. And finally, the article explores the question about the relationship between the professional actresses and their finest spectators who were the court ladies: whether the court ladies were imitated, admired, or simple spectators during the Italian court celebrations, their role cannot be more decisive.
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spelling doaj.art-02941af03dc84948a5732d928b4369672023-02-09T16:13:42ZengInstitut du Monde AnglophoneEtudes Epistémè1634-04502022-12-014210.4000/episteme.15924La comédienne dell’arte et son public au XVIIe siècle : un modèle dramaturgique et sa réceptionCécile BergerThe article aims to study the first professional Italian actresses from the end of the sixteenth century to the early seventeenth century, and makes several hypotheses about female spectators. However, because of the lack of any direct female first-hand accounts about the actresses at that time, the analysis tries to define the contours of their audience through the repertory of these actresses. The contemporary male gaze makes it possible to get some information about the expressiveness of the actress, whether it comes from post-Tridentine Church detractors and censors, or from admirers and/or fellow actors. But the rivalry between actresses is also revealing of a first female gaze that determines the subsequent interpretation and dramatic style of the heiresses. The first spectator of the actress is actually the actress herself, who imitates her rivals in order to outdo them in virtuosity. As the actress is sometimes presented as a possible role model for other women, this suggests that women were part of the audience of the theatre companies, in which the first actresses were performing. And finally, the article explores the question about the relationship between the professional actresses and their finest spectators who were the court ladies: whether the court ladies were imitated, admired, or simple spectators during the Italian court celebrations, their role cannot be more decisive.http://journals.openedition.org/episteme/15924commedia dell’arteIsabella AndreiniactressesVittoria PiissimiVincenza Armanicompetition
spellingShingle Cécile Berger
La comédienne dell’arte et son public au XVIIe siècle : un modèle dramaturgique et sa réception
Etudes Epistémè
commedia dell’arte
Isabella Andreini
actresses
Vittoria Piissimi
Vincenza Armani
competition
title La comédienne dell’arte et son public au XVIIe siècle : un modèle dramaturgique et sa réception
title_full La comédienne dell’arte et son public au XVIIe siècle : un modèle dramaturgique et sa réception
title_fullStr La comédienne dell’arte et son public au XVIIe siècle : un modèle dramaturgique et sa réception
title_full_unstemmed La comédienne dell’arte et son public au XVIIe siècle : un modèle dramaturgique et sa réception
title_short La comédienne dell’arte et son public au XVIIe siècle : un modèle dramaturgique et sa réception
title_sort la comedienne dell arte et son public au xviie siecle un modele dramaturgique et sa reception
topic commedia dell’arte
Isabella Andreini
actresses
Vittoria Piissimi
Vincenza Armani
competition
url http://journals.openedition.org/episteme/15924
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