Ariosto, Lodovico

The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre | 1996 | 700+ words | Copyright

Ariosto, Lodovico (1474–1533), Italian poet and playwright, best known for his epic poem, Orlando furioso, published in 1532 and adapted for the stage in 1969. He was also one of the first and best writers of early Italian comedy (commedia erudita). Though the material of his plays is taken from Renaissance city life, their structure is modelled upon Roman comedy. The first, La cassaria (1508) and I suppositi (1509), were given at the Court of the d'Este family, Ariosto's patrons, in Ferrara in a theatre built in a classical style under the influence of Vitruvius, which survived until 1533. The scenery was by Raphael. Both plays were in prose, but were later rewritten in verse, as was II negromante (written 1520, prod. 1530). An English translation of I suppositi by George Gascoigne, was performed at Gray's Inn in London in 1566.

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PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "Ariosto, Lodovico." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "Ariosto, Lodovico." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O79-AriostoLodovico.html

PHYLLIS HARTNOLL and PETER FOUND. "Ariosto, Lodovico." The Concise Oxford Companion to the Theatre. 1996. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O79-AriostoLodovico.html

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