ANDREINI Francesco Le Bravure del Capitano Spavento, divise in molti ragionamenti in forma di Dialogo... in questa terza impressione dal proprio autore ricorrette & aggiuntovi molti nuovi Ragionamenti dilettevoli & curiosi non piu stampati.
Venice, V. Somasco, 1609 4to in 8s: publisher's device on title-page, an engraving of Clorinto's pipes hanging from a tree and a full-page portrait by Abraham Tumerman at the beginning of the text. Contemporary vellum, slightly cracked at hinge. Wormtrack in eight gatherings very well repaired, occasionally just affecting a single letter only. The famous leader of the Compagnia dei Comici Gelosi had started his career playing the Inamorato but achieved his fame both in Italy and France with his interpretation of the Capitano, his own characterisation being named il Capitano Spavento. Having spent twenty years with the Gelosi together with his wife, the legendary beauty Isabella, on her death in 1604 he gave up the stage. Turning his attention to writing he first published (in 1607) the Bravure. These dialogues between Il Capitano and his servant Trappola are the quintessence of the set pieces which had been part of his performances. This was the first such collection published and is of course an important primary source for the history of the Commedia dell'Arte. An interesting side-light is the mention in Andreini's dedicatory letter of the zampogna he used when he played Corinto to Isabella's Fillide; he refers to it as his 'rustica e boscareccia Sampogna di sei Flauti di Bussi' and adds that it was made by il Bassano the renowned maker of wind instruments. Allacci, 149; this edition not in Clubb; not in Russo.
£1400
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