Vincenza Armani
Encyclopedia
Vincenza Armani was an Italian actress, singer, poet, musician, lace
maker and sculptor. She was one of the most famous Italian actors of the period and known as the "divine Vincenza Armani". She and Barbara Flaminia was the two most famed actresses in Italy in the 1560s and described as great rivals.
Vincenza Armani was from Venice and is first mentioned when she performed the part of a man in the theatre company Zan Ganassa in Mantua in 1565. She later became the primadonna of the famous commedia dell’arte Gelosi Company
of Flaminio Scala
. She combined her acting with writing music, poetry and singing, and she also manufactured lace
and sculptures of vax. In 1566, Barbara Flaminia is mentioned as her rival of fame, and in 1567, the two performed a famous competition in Mantua.
Armani is the first famous and well documented Italian actress in Commedia dell'artre, and the first Italian primadonna. The first Italian actress known by name, however, was the actress Lucrezia of Siena, whose name is on a contract of actors from October 1564.
Vincenza Armani was reportedly poisoned, possibly by a former lover. Her lover and colleague, Adriano Valerini, wrote a famous memorial speech to her memory in 1570. Garzoni called her "Divina" and "A perfect commedienne" and estimated that she "By the verbal talent of Cicero laced the art of acting at the same level as the art of speaches."
Lace
Lace is an openwork fabric, patterned with open holes in the work, made by machine or by hand. The holes can be formed via removal of threads or cloth from a previously woven fabric, but more often open spaces are created as part of the lace fabric. Lace-making is an ancient craft. True lace was...
maker and sculptor. She was one of the most famous Italian actors of the period and known as the "divine Vincenza Armani". She and Barbara Flaminia was the two most famed actresses in Italy in the 1560s and described as great rivals.
Vincenza Armani was from Venice and is first mentioned when she performed the part of a man in the theatre company Zan Ganassa in Mantua in 1565. She later became the primadonna of the famous commedia dell’arte Gelosi Company
I Gelosi
I Gelosi was an acting troupe that performed commedia dell'arte from 1569 to 1604. Their motto was Virtu, fama ed honor ne fer gelosi, meaning "We are jealous of attaining virtue, fame, and honor"....
of Flaminio Scala
Flaminio Scala
Flaminio Scala was an Italian comedian and stage actor, one of the most important figures of Commedia dell'Arte.-Il Teatro Delle Favole Rappresentative:...
. She combined her acting with writing music, poetry and singing, and she also manufactured lace
Lace
Lace is an openwork fabric, patterned with open holes in the work, made by machine or by hand. The holes can be formed via removal of threads or cloth from a previously woven fabric, but more often open spaces are created as part of the lace fabric. Lace-making is an ancient craft. True lace was...
and sculptures of vax. In 1566, Barbara Flaminia is mentioned as her rival of fame, and in 1567, the two performed a famous competition in Mantua.
Armani is the first famous and well documented Italian actress in Commedia dell'artre, and the first Italian primadonna. The first Italian actress known by name, however, was the actress Lucrezia of Siena, whose name is on a contract of actors from October 1564.
Vincenza Armani was reportedly poisoned, possibly by a former lover. Her lover and colleague, Adriano Valerini, wrote a famous memorial speech to her memory in 1570. Garzoni called her "Divina" and "A perfect commedienne" and estimated that she "By the verbal talent of Cicero laced the art of acting at the same level as the art of speaches."