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Cicisbeo

January 29, 2023

In 18th- and 19th-century Italy, the cicisbeo (UK: /ˌtʃɪtʃɪzˈbeɪoʊ/ CHITCH-iz-BAY-oh,[1] US: /ˌtʃiːtʃ-/ CHEE-chiz-,[2] Italian: [tʃitʃiˈzbɛːo]; plural: cicisbei) or cavalier servente (French: chevalier servant) was the man who was the professed gallant or lover[3] of a woman married to someone else. With the knowledge and consent of the husband, the cicisbeo attended his mistress at public entertainments,[4] to church and other occasions, and had privileged access to this woman. The arrangement is comparable to the Spanish cortejo or estrecho and, to a lesser degree, to the French petit-maître.[5] The exact etymology of the word is unknown; some evidence suggests it originally meant "in a whisper"[6] (perhaps an onomatopeic word). Other accounts suggest it is an inversion of bel cece,[7] which means "beautiful chick (pea)". According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first recorded usage of the term in English was found in a letter by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu dated 1718. The term appears in Italian in Giovanni Maria Muti's Quaresimale Del Padre Maestro Fra Giovanni Maria Muti De Predicatori of 1708 (p. 734).

Luigi Ponelato, Il cicisbeo, etching, 1790

Social importance

This arrangement, called the cicisbeatura or cicisbeismo, was widely practised, especially among the nobility of the Italian cities of Genoa, Nice, Venice, Florence and Rome.[8] While many contemporary references to cicisbei and descriptions of their social standing exist,[9] scholars diverge on the exact nature of the phenomenon.[10] Some maintain that this institution was defined by marriage contracts,[11] others question this claim and see it as a peculiarity of 18th-century customs that is not well defined or easily explained.[12] Other scholars see it as a sign of the increasing emancipation of aristocratic women in the 18th century.[13]

The cicisbeo was better tolerated if he was known to be homosexual. Louise d'Épinay wrote from Paris to her friend Ferdinando Galiani about the impending departure of marchese Alvise Mocenigo, the Venetian ambassador, whose tastes the ambassador had displayed in Paris:

Nothing equals the friendly companionship afforded to a woman by men of those persuasions. To the rest of you, so full of yourselves, one can't say a word that you don't take as provocation. ... Whereas with those gentlemen one knows quite well that they want no more of us than we of them—one feels in no danger and deliciously free"[14]

Regardless of its roots and technicalities, the custom was firmly entrenched. Typically, husbands tolerated or even welcomed the arrangement: Lord Byron, for example, was cicisbeo to Teresa, Contessa Guiccioli. After Byron's death, the Contessa's second husband, the Marquis de Boissy, was known to brag about the fact,[15] introducing her as "Madame la Marquise de Boissy, autrefois la Maitresse de Milord Byron" (the Marquise de Boissy, formerly the mistress of Lord Byron). Byron also famously analyzed the institution from an English point of view in his poem Beppo. Attempts by the husband to ward off prospective cicisbei or disapproval of the practice in general was likely to be met with ridicule and scorn:

... for, you must understand, this Italian fashion prevails at Nice among all ranks of people; and there is not such a passion as jealousy known. The husband and the cicisbeo live together as sworn brothers; and the wife and the mistress embrace each other with marks of the warmest affection.[16]
[E]very married lady in this country has her cicisbeo, or servente, who attends her every where on all occasions, and upon whose privileges the husband dares not encroach, without incurring the censure and ridicule of the whole community.[17]

Cicisbei played by set rules, generally avoiding public displays of affection. At public entertainments, they would typically stand behind their seated mistress and whisper in her ear.[8] Customs of the time did not permit them to engage in relationships with any other women during their free time, making the arrangement rather demanding. Either party could decide to end the relationship at any time. A woman's former cicisbei were called spiantati (literally penniless, destroyed), or cast-offs.[15]

In the arts

The topic can be found in the contemporary poem Il Giorno (1763) by Giuseppe Parini. Other works from the period which make good (subjectively) use of the topic include:

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ . Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2020-12-05.
  2. ^ "cicisbeo". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  3. ^ Roberto Bizzocchi (2014). "5". A Lady's Man: The Cicisbei, Private Morals and National Identity in Italy. Translated by Noor Giovanni Mazhar. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 320. ISBN 978-1-137-45092-0.
  4. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Cicisbeo" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 360.
  5. ^ Patriarca, Silvana (2005). "Indolence and Regeneration: Tropes and Tensions of Risorgimento Patriotism". The American Historical Review. 110 (2): 380–408. doi:10.1086/531319.
  6. ^ Gaite
  7. ^ DIZIONARIO ETIMOLOGICO ONLINE
  8. ^ a b Krünitz, Cicisbeo.
  9. ^ Boswell, 17–19; Smollett; Black, 123–26; Forsyth, 377, 411–12. All cited in Patriarca.
  10. ^ Patriarca.
  11. ^ Barbagli, 331–36. Cited in Patriarca.
  12. ^ Bizzocchi, 67–69. Cited in Patriarca.
  13. ^ Cazzoli, 2028–35. Cited in Patriarca.
  14. ^ Quoted in Steegmuller, Francis (1991). A Woman, A Man, and Two Kingdoms: The Story of Madame d'Épinay and the Abbé Galiani. New York. p. 178. ISBN 0-394-58806-1.
  15. ^ a b Hodgson, 16.
  16. ^ Smollett, Letter XVII from Nice, July 2, 1764.
  17. ^ Smollett, Letter XXVII from Nice, January 28, 1765.

Bibliography

  • Marzio Barbagli, Sotto lo stesso tetto: Mutamenti della famiglia in Italia dal XV al XX secolo, (Bologna, 2000)
  • Roberto Bizzocchi, "Cicisbei: La morale italiana," Storica 3 (1997)
  • Roberto Bizzocchi. A Lady's Man: The Cicisbei, Private Morals and National Identity in Italy. Translated by Noor Giovanni Mazhar. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire Palgrave Macmillan, 2014. 320 pp. ISBN 978-1-137-45092-0
  • Jeremy Black, Italy and the Grand Tour, (New Haven, Conn., 2003)
  • James Boswell, Boswell on the Grand Tour: Italy, Corsica, and France 1765–1766, Frank Brady, ed. (New York, 1955)
  • Carla Pellandra Cazzoli, "Dames et sigisbées: Un début d'emancipation feminine?". Studies on Voltaire and the Eighteenth Century 193 (1980)
  • John Forsyth, Remarks on the Antiquities, Arts, and Letters during an Excursion in Italy in 1802 and 1803, 2nd edn., (London, 1816)
  • Barbara Hodgson, Italy Out of Hand: A Capricious Tour, Chronicle Books LLC, 2005
  • J.G. Krünitz (ed.), Oekonomische Encyklopädie oder allgemeines System der Staats- Stadt- Haus- und Landwirthschaft, Volume 8, 1776. Cicisbeo. Retrieved on March 27, 2006
  • Patriarca, Silvana (2005). "Indolence and Regeneration: Tropes and Tensions of Risorgimento Patriotism". The American Historical Review. 110 (2): 380–408. doi:10.1086/531319.
  • Jean Charles Léonard Simonde de Sismondi, Histoire des Républiques Italiennes du Moyen Age, 5th edn., vol. 8 (1807–1818; Brussels, 1839)
  • Tobias Smollett, Travels through France and Italy, numerous editions.
  • Gaite, Carmen Martín (1991). "Love Customs in Eighteenth-Century Spain". Berkeley: University of California Press. Retrieved 2006-12-08.
  • "DIZIONARIO ETIMOLOGICO ONLINE" (in Italian). Retrieved 2006-12-08.

External links

  •   Media related to Cicisbeo at Wikimedia Commons

January 29, 2023
cicisbeo, 18th, 19th, century, italy, cicisbeo, chitch, chee, chiz, italian, tʃitʃiˈzbɛːo, plural, cicisbei, cavalier, servente, french, chevalier, servant, professed, gallant, lover, woman, married, someone, else, with, knowledge, consent, husband, cicisbeo, . In 18th and 19th century Italy the cicisbeo UK ˌ tʃ ɪ tʃ ɪ z ˈ b eɪ oʊ CHITCH iz BAY oh 1 US ˌ tʃ iː tʃ CHEE chiz 2 Italian tʃitʃiˈzbɛːo plural cicisbei or cavalier servente French chevalier servant was the man who was the professed gallant or lover 3 of a woman married to someone else With the knowledge and consent of the husband the cicisbeo attended his mistress at public entertainments 4 to church and other occasions and had privileged access to this woman The arrangement is comparable to the Spanish cortejo or estrecho and to a lesser degree to the French petit maitre 5 The exact etymology of the word is unknown some evidence suggests it originally meant in a whisper 6 perhaps an onomatopeic word Other accounts suggest it is an inversion of bel cece 7 which means beautiful chick pea According to the Oxford English Dictionary the first recorded usage of the term in English was found in a letter by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu dated 1718 The term appears in Italian in Giovanni Maria Muti s Quaresimale Del Padre Maestro Fra Giovanni Maria Muti De Predicatori of 1708 p 734 Luigi Ponelato Il cicisbeo etching 1790 Contents 1 Social importance 2 In the arts 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksSocial importance EditThis arrangement called the cicisbeatura or cicisbeismo was widely practised especially among the nobility of the Italian cities of Genoa Nice Venice Florence and Rome 8 While many contemporary references to cicisbei and descriptions of their social standing exist 9 scholars diverge on the exact nature of the phenomenon 10 Some maintain that this institution was defined by marriage contracts 11 others question this claim and see it as a peculiarity of 18th century customs that is not well defined or easily explained 12 Other scholars see it as a sign of the increasing emancipation of aristocratic women in the 18th century 13 The cicisbeo was better tolerated if he was known to be homosexual Louise d Epinay wrote from Paris to her friend Ferdinando Galiani about the impending departure of marchese Alvise Mocenigo the Venetian ambassador whose tastes the ambassador had displayed in Paris Nothing equals the friendly companionship afforded to a woman by men of those persuasions To the rest of you so full of yourselves one can t say a word that you don t take as provocation Whereas with those gentlemen one knows quite well that they want no more of us than we of them one feels in no danger and deliciously free 14 Regardless of its roots and technicalities the custom was firmly entrenched Typically husbands tolerated or even welcomed the arrangement Lord Byron for example was cicisbeo to Teresa Contessa Guiccioli After Byron s death the Contessa s second husband the Marquis de Boissy was known to brag about the fact 15 introducing her as Madame la Marquise de Boissy autrefois la Maitresse de Milord Byron the Marquise de Boissy formerly the mistress of Lord Byron Byron also famously analyzed the institution from an English point of view in his poem Beppo Attempts by the husband to ward off prospective cicisbei or disapproval of the practice in general was likely to be met with ridicule and scorn for you must understand this Italian fashion prevails at Nice among all ranks of people and there is not such a passion as jealousy known The husband and the cicisbeo live together as sworn brothers and the wife and the mistress embrace each other with marks of the warmest affection 16 E very married lady in this country has her cicisbeo or servente who attends her every where on all occasions and upon whose privileges the husband dares not encroach without incurring the censure and ridicule of the whole community 17 Cicisbei played by set rules generally avoiding public displays of affection At public entertainments they would typically stand behind their seated mistress and whisper in her ear 8 Customs of the time did not permit them to engage in relationships with any other women during their free time making the arrangement rather demanding Either party could decide to end the relationship at any time A woman s former cicisbei were called spiantati literally penniless destroyed or cast offs 15 In the arts EditThe topic can be found in the contemporary poem Il Giorno 1763 by Giuseppe Parini Other works from the period which make good subjectively use of the topic include Cosi fan tutte Act II scene 1 1790 an opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart The Antiquarian s Family 1749 a comedy by Carlo Goldoni L italiana in Algeri 1813 and Il turco in Italia 1788 operas by Gioachino Rossini La Tosca 1887 play by Victorien Sardou the basis of the opera Tosca by Giacomo Puccini Beppo 1817 a poem by Lord Byron See also EditChaperone Courtly love Cuckoldry Gigolo Mistress PolyandryReferences EditCitations cicisbeo Lexico UK English Dictionary Oxford University Press Archived from the original on 2020 12 05 cicisbeo Merriam Webster Dictionary Retrieved 20 August 2019 Roberto Bizzocchi 2014 5 A Lady s Man The Cicisbei Private Morals and National Identity in Italy Translated by Noor Giovanni Mazhar Houndmills Basingstoke Hampshire Palgrave Macmillan p 320 ISBN 978 1 137 45092 0 Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Cicisbeo Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 6 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 360 Patriarca Silvana 2005 Indolence and Regeneration Tropes and Tensions of Risorgimento Patriotism The American Historical Review 110 2 380 408 doi 10 1086 531319 Gaite DIZIONARIO ETIMOLOGICO ONLINE a b Krunitz Cicisbeo Boswell 17 19 Smollett Black 123 26 Forsyth 377 411 12 All cited in Patriarca Patriarca Barbagli 331 36 Cited in Patriarca Bizzocchi 67 69 Cited in Patriarca Cazzoli 2028 35 Cited in Patriarca Quoted in Steegmuller Francis 1991 A Woman A Man and Two Kingdoms The Story of Madame d Epinay and the Abbe Galiani New York p 178 ISBN 0 394 58806 1 a b Hodgson 16 Smollett Letter XVII from Nice July 2 1764 Smollett Letter XXVII from Nice January 28 1765 Bibliography Marzio Barbagli Sotto lo stesso tetto Mutamenti della famiglia in Italia dal XV al XX secolo Bologna 2000 Roberto Bizzocchi Cicisbei La morale italiana Storica 3 1997 Roberto Bizzocchi A Lady s Man The Cicisbei Private Morals and National Identity in Italy Translated by Noor Giovanni Mazhar Houndmills Basingstoke Hampshire Palgrave Macmillan 2014 320 pp ISBN 978 1 137 45092 0 Jeremy Black Italy and the Grand Tour New Haven Conn 2003 James Boswell Boswell on the Grand Tour Italy Corsica and France 1765 1766 Frank Brady ed New York 1955 Carla Pellandra Cazzoli Dames et sigisbees Un debut d emancipation feminine Studies on Voltaire and the Eighteenth Century 193 1980 John Forsyth Remarks on the Antiquities Arts and Letters during an Excursion in Italy in 1802 and 1803 2nd edn London 1816 Barbara Hodgson Italy Out of Hand A Capricious Tour Chronicle Books LLC 2005 J G Krunitz ed Oekonomische Encyklopadie oder allgemeines System der Staats Stadt Haus und Landwirthschaft Volume 8 1776 Cicisbeo Retrieved on March 27 2006 Patriarca Silvana 2005 Indolence and Regeneration Tropes and Tensions of Risorgimento Patriotism The American Historical Review 110 2 380 408 doi 10 1086 531319 Jean Charles Leonard Simonde de Sismondi Histoire des Republiques Italiennes du Moyen Age 5th edn vol 8 1807 1818 Brussels 1839 Tobias Smollett Travels through France and Italy numerous editions Gaite Carmen Martin 1991 Love Customs in Eighteenth Century Spain Berkeley University of California Press Retrieved 2006 12 08 DIZIONARIO ETIMOLOGICO ONLINE in Italian Retrieved 2006 12 08 External links Edit Media related to Cicisbeo at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cicisbeo amp oldid 1114929791, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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