Francesco Gabrielli


Francesco Gabrielli was an Italian actor of the commedia dell'arte. He was particularly famous as a virtuoso musician, who was an accomplished player of a dozen musical instruments. He is sometimes credited with the creation of Scapino, a musical zanni role, which he may actually have taken from Niccolò Barbieri. Gabrielli first appears as a member of the troupe of the Accesi in 1612, is later recorded as a member of the Confidenti, and in 1624 was with the Fedeli in Paris, before rejoining the Accesi.
In 1627 Gabrielli learned that the Duke of Mantua was seeking a company of actors and wrote a letter from Ferrara to Antonio Costantini, the Duke's assistant, offering to bring his family and fellow players to perform in Mantua. The letter reveals much concerning the difficulties of forming a balanced ensemble and the professional rivalries among actors, both within and between troupes.
Francesco Gabrielli was the son of the well known commedia dell'arte actor Giovanni Gabrielli. Francesco married Spinetta Locatelli, an actress who appeared with him, and they had several children who became actors, including Giulia. It is uncertain whether Girolamo Gabrielli and Ippolita Gabrielli were his children.