Carlo Goldoni (1707 - 1793)
Venice, Italy

Carlo Goldoni is most prominent for his ability to reform the Italian Theatre. He substituted a drama of improvisation into one a fully elaborated scene inspired by Molière. Born in Venice, he accompanied his father in his peregrinations to various Italian cities, among them Perugia and Rimini, where he practised as a physician. The boy was intended at first for his father's profession, but he early indicated his real tastes by running away from Rimini with a theatrical troupe. Later we find him at Venice studying law, and ere long he is seen occupying at Chioggia the post of assistant to the registrar or clerk of the criminal court. By this time he had begun the composition of plays. He finally took his degree in law and settled in Venice, practising as an advocate and continuing his literary work. But he did not remain at rest long. Associated with the diplomatic service for brief periods, he sojourned in Milan and in Genoa, and then for one reason or another shifted his domicile hither and thither in Northern Italy, making his longest stay in Pisa, where for five years he devoted himself to legal pursuits. In 1746 he received the appointment of dramatic poet to the theatre S. Angelo at Venice, and in the following year betook himself to his native city. In his new position he wrote many comedies, which were performed successfully, and in 1752 he accepted a similar appointment to the Venetian theatre of San Luca, for which he provided additional pieces. The partisans of the inartistic "Commedia dell' arte" were waging all the while warfare against him, and finally, although he had gained the day, he determined from sheer weariness to accept the offer made him in 1761 of the place of poet to the Théâtre Italien at Paris. Honourable though his post was, he never felt really happy in it, and when the time of his contract was finished, he meditated an instant return to his native land. This purpose he did not carry out, for an appointment as Italian tutor to the daughters of Louis XV induced him to remain in France. A pension was assigned to him, and it was paid to him regularly up to the year 1792. He died the next year.

Works
La locandiera (1753, tr. The Mistress of the Inn, 1856)
Il ventaglio (1763, tr. The Fan, 1911)
Il burbero benefico (1771, tr. The Beneficent Bear, 1849)
La buona figliuola (1756, tr. The Accomplished Maid, 1767)

Sources:

"Carlo Goldoni." Catholic Encyclopedia. Volume XIII. 1999. Catholic Encyclopedia. September 1, 1909. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06631a.htm

"Carlo Goldoni." The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. 1994. Columbia University Press. 2000. http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0826489.html