Giovan Battista Cini
Encyclopedia
Giovan Battista Cini was an Italian renaissance playwright
at the court of the Medici
in Florence
.
Cini was a member of The Florentine Academy of Art which was founded by Grand Duke Cosimo I
at the height of the Medici
power during the 16th century. Cini's contemporaries there were his fellow authors Amberi, Lasca (author of the renowned Story of Dr Manente), Cecchi and Gelli
. They studied the intellectual philosophies from Plautus
and Terence
to Ariosto
and Machiavelli.
At the time Florence led Europe as a theatrical center. By the 15th century the city was renowned for its "sacre rappresentazioni": these were religious dramas incorporating stage machinery. However what was an important step to what was to become modern theater was the Florentine love of staging classical comedies, unlike the rest of intellectual Europe which merely read them. The first instance of a Florentine classical production was as early as 1476 when Terence's Andria
was performed translated into Latin so that it could be clearly understood by a wider audience. The next step came in the late 16th century came when musical interludes were incorporated into the text and spoken dialogue—this was the birth of modern opera.
One of these early "operas" was Cini's principal work which drew on the fables of Cupid and Psyche
. This work, which Cini dedicated "to the future of Grand Duchy of Florence"' was performed accompanied by music composed by Alexander Striggio. Striggio (1535 – 1589) was the principal composer to the Florentine Medici court.
Another of his works, La Vedova ("The Widow"), received a famous theatrical set designed by the Medici's architect Baldassarre Lanci
- complete with mechanical revolving scenery. Lanci actually changed the location of the play in order to include more scene changes than Cini had written.
These elaborate and complicated performances were generally staged to honor weddings and baptisms of the Medici family, or to greet the arrival of foreign princes and potentates in Florence.
During Cini's time, performances were generally held in the courtyard of a palazzo
where often grandstands would be erected. The courtyard would be tented by cloth on which was painted a sky. The Palazzo Pitti
(which the Medici had purchased from Luca Pitti
in 1549) had an amphitheatre
constructed in its Boboli Gardens
for such performances. At one performance it was recorded that seventy candelabra bearing putti were suspended from the "sky" providing light, while the performers entered the theatrical arena on ornamental floats against a background showing Venice. Venice and the Sahara were a popular locations for Florentine plays, and in choosing these locations Cini was no exception.
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
at the court of the Medici
Medici
The House of Medici or Famiglia de' Medici was a political dynasty, banking family and later royal house that first began to gather prominence under Cosimo de' Medici in the Republic of Florence during the late 14th century. The family originated in the Mugello region of the Tuscan countryside,...
in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
.
Cini was a member of The Florentine Academy of Art which was founded by Grand Duke Cosimo I
Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Cosimo I de' Medici was Duke of Florence from 1537 to 1574, reigning as the first Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1569.-Biography:...
at the height of the Medici
Medici
The House of Medici or Famiglia de' Medici was a political dynasty, banking family and later royal house that first began to gather prominence under Cosimo de' Medici in the Republic of Florence during the late 14th century. The family originated in the Mugello region of the Tuscan countryside,...
power during the 16th century. Cini's contemporaries there were his fellow authors Amberi, Lasca (author of the renowned Story of Dr Manente), Cecchi and Gelli
Giambattista Gelli
Giambattista Gelli was a Florentine humanist man of letters, from an artisan background. He is known for his works of the 1540s, Capricci del bottaio and La Circe, which are ethical and philosophical dialogues...
. They studied the intellectual philosophies from Plautus
Plautus
Titus Maccius Plautus , commonly known as "Plautus", was a Roman playwright of the Old Latin period. His comedies are the earliest surviving intact works in Latin literature. He wrote Palliata comoedia, the genre devised by the innovator of Latin literature, Livius Andronicus...
and Terence
Terence
Publius Terentius Afer , better known in English as Terence, was a playwright of the Roman Republic, of North African descent. His comedies were performed for the first time around 170–160 BC. Terentius Lucanus, a Roman senator, brought Terence to Rome as a slave, educated him and later on,...
to Ariosto
Ludovico Ariosto
Ludovico Ariosto was an Italian poet. He is best known as the author of the romance epic Orlando Furioso . The poem, a continuation of Matteo Maria Boiardo's Orlando Innamorato, describes the adventures of Charlemagne, Orlando, and the Franks as they battle against the Saracens with diversions...
and Machiavelli.
At the time Florence led Europe as a theatrical center. By the 15th century the city was renowned for its "sacre rappresentazioni": these were religious dramas incorporating stage machinery. However what was an important step to what was to become modern theater was the Florentine love of staging classical comedies, unlike the rest of intellectual Europe which merely read them. The first instance of a Florentine classical production was as early as 1476 when Terence's Andria
Andria
-Places:Italy*Andria, a city in the Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani*Roman Catholic Diocese of Andria, a Roman Catholic diocese...
was performed translated into Latin so that it could be clearly understood by a wider audience. The next step came in the late 16th century came when musical interludes were incorporated into the text and spoken dialogue—this was the birth of modern opera.
One of these early "operas" was Cini's principal work which drew on the fables of Cupid and Psyche
Cupid and Psyche
Cupid and Psyche , is a legend that first appeared as a digressionary story told by an old woman in Lucius Apuleius' novel, The Golden Ass, written in the 2nd century CE. Apuleius likely used an earlier tale as the basis for his story, modifying it to suit the thematic needs of his novel.It has...
. This work, which Cini dedicated "to the future of Grand Duchy of Florence"' was performed accompanied by music composed by Alexander Striggio. Striggio (1535 – 1589) was the principal composer to the Florentine Medici court.
Another of his works, La Vedova ("The Widow"), received a famous theatrical set designed by the Medici's architect Baldassarre Lanci
Baldassarre Lanci
Baldassarre Lanci was an Italian architect, inventor, theatrical set designer, and master of perspective of the Renaissance period. Born in Urbino, he spent most of his working life in Tuscany.-Early career:...
- complete with mechanical revolving scenery. Lanci actually changed the location of the play in order to include more scene changes than Cini had written.
These elaborate and complicated performances were generally staged to honor weddings and baptisms of the Medici family, or to greet the arrival of foreign princes and potentates in Florence.
During Cini's time, performances were generally held in the courtyard of a palazzo
Palazzo
Palazzo, an Italian word meaning a large building , may refer to:-Buildings:*Palazzo, an Italian type of building**Palazzo style architecture, imitative of Italian palazzi...
where often grandstands would be erected. The courtyard would be tented by cloth on which was painted a sky. The Palazzo Pitti
Palazzo Pitti
The Palazzo Pitti , in English sometimes called the Pitti Palace, is a vast mainly Renaissance palace in Florence, Italy. It is situated on the south side of the River Arno, a short distance from the Ponte Vecchio...
(which the Medici had purchased from Luca Pitti
Luca Pitti
Luca Pitti was a Florentine banker during the period of the republic presided over by Cosimo de' Medici. He was a loyal friend and servant to the Medici and the republic...
in 1549) had an amphitheatre
Amphitheatre
An amphitheatre is an open-air venue used for entertainment and performances.There are two similar, but distinct, types of structure for which the word "amphitheatre" is used: Ancient Roman amphitheatres were large central performance spaces surrounded by ascending seating, and were commonly used...
constructed in its Boboli Gardens
Boboli Gardens
The Boboli Gardens are a park in Florence, Italy, that is home to a collection of sculptures dating from the 16th through the 18th centuries, with some Roman antiquities.-History and layout:...
for such performances. At one performance it was recorded that seventy candelabra bearing putti were suspended from the "sky" providing light, while the performers entered the theatrical arena on ornamental floats against a background showing Venice. Venice and the Sahara were a popular locations for Florentine plays, and in choosing these locations Cini was no exception.