Gaetano Casanova (2 April 1697, Parma â€" 18 December 1733, Venice)
was an Italian actor and ballet dancer. His eldest son was the famous
adventurer, Giacomo Casanova.Gaetano Giuseppe Giacomo Casanova was
born to Giacomo Casanova (whose family had originally come to Italy
from Aragon) and his wife, Anna Roli. His older brother, Giambattista,
left home in 1712 and was never heard from again. Gaetano followed
suit the following year, having become infatuated with Giovanna
Benozzi (1662 - c. 1750), a Commedia dell'arte actress who went by the
name of "La Fragoletta" ("The Little Strawberry"). Because of the
difference in age, nothing came of it and she married Francesco
Balletti, from a family of famous actors, who specialized in the role
of Harlequin.In 1723, he left the troupe and went to Venice, where he
found a position at the Teatro San Samuele, owned by the Grimani
family. Near the place where he was staying, there was a shoemaker's
shop owned by a certain Girolamo Farussi, who had an attractive
daughter, known as Zanetta. The following year, against her parents'
wishes, she married Gaetano. Her father died shortly after, from
grief, according to Giacomo, and her mother, Marcia, was reconciled to
the union only when Gaetano promised that he would not allow Zanetta
to become an actress.In 1725, their first child, Giacomo, was born.
According to Giacomo's memoirs, Gaetano suspected Michele Grimani, the
theater's proprietor, of being the actual father. The next year,
despite his promise, he and Zanetta went to London on a tour with a
popular Italian acting company, leaving Giacomo in the care of
Zanetta's mother. They eventually had five more children; Francesco
and Giovanni, who both became painters, Faustina Maddalena
(1731-1736), Maria Maddalena (1732-1800) and Gaetano Alvise
(1734-1783), who became a priest; born two months after his father
died.
was an Italian actor and ballet dancer. His eldest son was the famous
adventurer, Giacomo Casanova.Gaetano Giuseppe Giacomo Casanova was
born to Giacomo Casanova (whose family had originally come to Italy
from Aragon) and his wife, Anna Roli. His older brother, Giambattista,
left home in 1712 and was never heard from again. Gaetano followed
suit the following year, having become infatuated with Giovanna
Benozzi (1662 - c. 1750), a Commedia dell'arte actress who went by the
name of "La Fragoletta" ("The Little Strawberry"). Because of the
difference in age, nothing came of it and she married Francesco
Balletti, from a family of famous actors, who specialized in the role
of Harlequin.In 1723, he left the troupe and went to Venice, where he
found a position at the Teatro San Samuele, owned by the Grimani
family. Near the place where he was staying, there was a shoemaker's
shop owned by a certain Girolamo Farussi, who had an attractive
daughter, known as Zanetta. The following year, against her parents'
wishes, she married Gaetano. Her father died shortly after, from
grief, according to Giacomo, and her mother, Marcia, was reconciled to
the union only when Gaetano promised that he would not allow Zanetta
to become an actress.In 1725, their first child, Giacomo, was born.
According to Giacomo's memoirs, Gaetano suspected Michele Grimani, the
theater's proprietor, of being the actual father. The next year,
despite his promise, he and Zanetta went to London on a tour with a
popular Italian acting company, leaving Giacomo in the care of
Zanetta's mother. They eventually had five more children; Francesco
and Giovanni, who both became painters, Faustina Maddalena
(1731-1736), Maria Maddalena (1732-1800) and Gaetano Alvise
(1734-1783), who became a priest; born two months after his father
died.
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