ANDREINI, GIOVANBATTISTA. — Actor, poet, and playwright, born in Florence in 1578 to the celebrated actor Francesco Andreini (known by the stage name Capitan Spavento) and Isabella, an actress of international renown. At just sixteen years old, he joined the Gelosi company under the name Lelio. From 1604, together with his wife Virginia Ramponi, he became part of the Fedeli company, which was under the patronage of Vincenzo, Duke of Mantua. Due to his profession, he traveled extensively through various Italian cities, visiting France three times and Germany once. He died in Reggio Emilia in 1654. His comedies are mostly licentious and obscene.
His fame is chiefly tied to *Adamo* (Milan, 1613), a truly remarkable dramatic work for the grandeur of its conception, even if it includes the bizarre spectacles typical of the era’s taste. Milton drew felicitous inspiration from it for *Paradise Lost*. Andreini was also the author of sacred and profane lyric poetry, including a poem in praise of St. Charles Borromeo titled *Divina Visione*, and sonnets honoring saints who had been actors in life, collected under the title *Teatro Celeste* (Paris, 1625).