Gaetano Casanova (2 April 1697,

Parma Parma (; ) is a city in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna known for its architecture, Giuseppe Verdi, music, art, prosciutto (ham), Parmesan, cheese and surrounding countryside. With a population of 198,986 inhabitants as of 2025, ...

– 18 December 1733,

Venice Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...

) was an Italian actor and

ballet dancer A ballet dancer is a person who practices the Art (skill), art of classical ballet. Both females and males can practice ballet. They rely on years of extensive training and proper technique to become a part of a professional ballet company. B ...

. His eldest son was the famous adventurer,

Giacomo Casanova Giacomo Girolamo Casanova (; ; 2 April 1725 – 4 June 1798) was an Italian adventurer who was born in the Republic of Venice and travelled extensively throughout Europe. He is chiefly remembered for his autobiography, written in French and pu ...

Biography

Gaetano Giuseppe Giacomo Casanova was born to Giacomo Casanova (whose family had originally come to Italy from

Aragon Aragon ( , ; Spanish and ; ) is an autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. In northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces of Spain, ...

) 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 Commedia dell'arte was an early form of professional theatre, originating from Theatre of Italy, Italian theatre, that was popular throughout Europe between the 16th and 18th centuries. It was formerly called Italian comedy in English and is a ...

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 Harlequin (, , ; , ) is the best-known of the comic servant characters (Zanni) from the Italian commedia dell'arte, associated with the city of Bergamo. The role is traditionally believed to have been introduced by the Italian actor-manager Zan ...

. 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 The House of Grimani was a prominent Venetian patrician family, including three Doges of Venice. They were active in trade, politics and later the ownership of theatres and opera-houses. Notable members Notable members included: * Antonio Gri ...

. 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 theatre'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 Francesco, the Italian language, Italian (and original) version of the personal name "Francis (given name), Francis", is one of the List of most popular given names, most common given name among males in Italy. Notable persons with that name inclu ...

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.Antonio Valeri, Enrico Voghera
Excerpt
from ''Casanova a Roma'', 1899 In 1733, he developed an

abscess An abscess is a collection of pus that has built up within the tissue of the body, usually caused by bacterial infection. Signs and symptoms of abscesses include redness, pain, warmth, and swelling. The swelling may feel fluid-filled when pre ...

on his ear that became infected. He died eight days later. Two days before his death, he called all of his friends and relatives to his bedside, where the Grimanis pledged to take care of his wife and children.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Casanova, Gaetano 1697 births 1733 deaths 18th-century Italian male actors Italian male stage actors 18th-century Italian ballet dancers Italian people of Spanish descent Dancers from Parma Giacomo Casanova Actors from Parma Male actors from Emilia-Romagna