Domenico Angelo
Encyclopedia
Domenico Angelo fencing master, was born in Leghorn, Italy, as Angelo Domenico Malevolti Tremamondo.
According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Angelo was the first to emphasize fencing as a means of developing health, poise, and grace. As a result of his insight and influence, fencing changed from an art of war to a sport." It also calls his treatise, L’École des armes (1763; The School of Fencing) a "classic".
Soon after arriving in England he established Angelo's School of Arms in Carlisle House, Soho
, London
. There he taught the aristocracy the fashionable art of Swordsmanship
which they had previously had to go the continent to learn, and also set up a riding school in the former rear garden of the house. He was fencing instructor to the Royal Family
. One of his tenants at Soho Square was the composer Johann Christian Bach
(youngest son of J.S. Bach
), harpsichord instructor to the Queen.
He then handed that school over to a son, and established himself at Eton
, where his family continued to teach fencing for three more generations.
By his wife Elizabeth Johnson, Angelo had at least six children:
There was perhaps also a son Michael.
He died at his daughter Florella's house at Eton.
According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Angelo was the first to emphasize fencing as a means of developing health, poise, and grace. As a result of his insight and influence, fencing changed from an art of war to a sport." It also calls his treatise, L’École des armes (1763; The School of Fencing) a "classic".
Soon after arriving in England he established Angelo's School of Arms in Carlisle House, Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. There he taught the aristocracy the fashionable art of Swordsmanship
Swordsmanship
Swordsmanship refers to the skills of a swordsman, a person versed in the art of the sword. The term is modern, and as such was mainly used to refer to smallsword fencing, but by extension it can also be applied to any martial art involving the use of a sword...
which they had previously had to go the continent to learn, and also set up a riding school in the former rear garden of the house. He was fencing instructor to the Royal Family
Royal family
A royal family is the extended family of a king or queen regnant. The term imperial family appropriately describes the extended family of an emperor or empress, while the terms "ducal family", "grand ducal family" or "princely family" are more appropriate to describe the relatives of a reigning...
. One of his tenants at Soho Square was the composer Johann Christian Bach
Johann Christian Bach
Johann Christian Bach was a composer of the Classical era, the eleventh and youngest son of Johann Sebastian Bach. He is sometimes referred to as 'the London Bach' or 'the English Bach', due to his time spent living in the British capital...
(youngest son of J.S. Bach
Bạch
Bạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
), harpsichord instructor to the Queen.
He then handed that school over to a son, and established himself at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, where his family continued to teach fencing for three more generations.
By his wife Elizabeth Johnson, Angelo had at least six children:
- Henry Charles William, born 5 April, 1756. Also a fencing master.
- Florella Sophia, born 1759, Dame at Eton.
- Anne Caroline Eliza, born 1763.
- Catherine Elizabeth, born 1766, married to Mark Drury, Second Master at Harrow schoolHarrow SchoolHarrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
, and brother of Joseph DruryJoseph DruryJoseph Drury was Head Master of Harrow School 1785–1805, and first of a dynasty of Drurys to teach at Harrow.He married Louisa Heath, from whose brother Benjamin Heath, he took over the head mastership of Harrow in 1785. His brother Mark Drury was Second Master at Harrow...
, Headmaster of Harrow. - Elizabeth Tremamondo, born 1768.
- George Xavier Tremamondo, born 1773.
There was perhaps also a son Michael.
He died at his daughter Florella's house at Eton.
Legacy
- The play "Tremamondo - The Angel of Fencing", written by Alberto BonaAlberto BonaAlberto Bona is an Italian actor, playwright and film director.-Biography:Alberto Bona started his career as a cartoonist in Italy, before moving to London, where he began a new career within theatre and independent film productions...
and directed by Giampaolo ZennaroGiampaolo ZennaroGiampaolo Zennaro is an Italian Opera director and stage designer.-Biography:Zennaro started working with Teatri Emiliani ATER in 1967, following his apprenticeship with Gianrico Becher...
, was staged at the Teatro Carlo Goldoni, in Angelo Domenico's native town of Leghorn.
External links
- Descendants of Angelo Domenico Tremamondo
- Fencers of Fame and Fiction, Margaret Odrowaz-Sypniewski, B.F.A.