Barbara Flaminia detta Hortensia

Abstract

Barbara Flaminia was the first actress in the Commedia dell’Arte of which we have documented news. Endowed with excellent artistic qualities, she performed in comedies, tragicomedies, pastorals and in singing spectacles. In the Sixties of the Sixteenth century she was active in Mantua. After the marriage with Alberto Naselli (Zan Ganassa), she performed with her husband in Austria and in France and, between 1574 and 1584, steadily in Spain.