Amorosa speranza: fauola pastorale

Amorosa speranza: fauola pastorale

Valeria Miani and Isabella Andreini wrote of love, both erotic and sensual, atypical themes for women writing at this time. Both were in the sphere of the Venetian Court, part of a significant circle of women writers in the latter half of the sixteenth century. Dramatist and poet Miani was the first Italian woman to publish a tragedy. Amorosa speranza’s engraved ornamental title page depicts putti plucking leaves and making crowns of laurel, a tribute to Miani perhaps? This pastoral drama was written to be performed. It is a tale of mistaken identities, a husband lost, a new admirer, and satyrs and sprites.

Miani Negri, Valeria

Francesco Bolzetta

1604

Venice

1604

Valeria Miani Negri — dramatist and poet

P

2

1600s