16th century, Europe, historical figure, Italian, Italy, primary source, quotes, stories
​The Italian dwarf-jester Antonio da Trento, who went by the nick-name of Nanino (Little Dwarf), served Francesco II Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua (1466-1519), by whom he was on one occasion threatened with irons and manacles if he did not control his mockery. His...
16th century, correspondence, Europe, historical figure, Italian, Italy, primary source, quotes, stories
Antonio da Trento, known as Nanino (Little Dwarf), belonged to the court of the Marquis of Mantua. There is a letter written in dialect in 1495 from Nanino to the Marquis, Francesco II Gonzaga (1466-1519). In a letter dated 24 July 1512, from the Marquis to the...
19th century, Europe, Italian, Italy, primary source, quotes
This Italian quotation suggests that in a crazy world the only sane person is the one who plays the fool. It reminds me of a saying by an English clown that the fool stands on his head and sees the world the right way up. These are late echoes of a European medieval...
16th century, correspondence, Europe, historical figure, Italian, Italy, primary source, quotes, stories
Many court fools were considered ‘naturals’, having some form of mental disability or neurodiversity. This letter gives examples of the behaviour of a female dwarf known as Caterina Matta (Crazy Catherine) who served Isabella d’Este (1474-1539),...
17th century, historical figure, Italian, Ottoman, primary source, quotes, Turkey
A detailed account of life in the Ottoman seraglio during the early years of Ahmet I’s reign (r. 1603-17) is given by Ottaviano Bon (1552-1623), the Venetian representative in the years 1604-07. Â He makes several references to ‘buffoons’, and to...
16th century, Europe, Italian, Italy, lexicon, primary source, quotes
Writing during the latter part of the European jester’s heyday, Giulio Landi (1498-1579) defined the buffone as one without limits to their laughter. It is an interesting definition of fools, complemented by others both more and less favourable. See, for...
15th century, Europe, historical figure, Italian, Italy, primary source, quotes, stories
A charming moment described by Galeazzo da San Severino (c. 1460-1525) in a letter to Isabella d’Este (1474-1539), in which he recounts a journey in the company of her sister, Beatrice d’Este (1475-97), and Beatrice’s dwarf-jester Dioda, which they...
16th century, Europe, Italian, Italy, primary source, quotes
Two Italian Renaissance writers lament the fact that jesters were admitted to the courts of the nobility in preference to the virtuous and the good. It may be that they felt their own class to be sidelined in preference for fools and buffoons and this was galling to...
