Silvia Balletti

She mainly played the part of heroine in Commedia dell'arte, Silvia. Casanova belonged to her admirers.

Silvia Balletti was born to the Italian actors Antonio Benozzi and Clara Mascara, who belonged to a Venetian theatre company active in Toulouse since the banishment of the Comédie Italienne from Paris in 1697. In 1716, she belonged to the first actors engaged when the Comédie Italienne was reestablished in Paris. Her career up to that point is not known, but it is presumed that she must have had experience, since she would not otherwise have been hired to take part in the opening performance before the regent of 18 May 1716. She made a success, and became the theatre's star in heroine parts. In 1720, she began a long co-operation with Pierre de Marivaux, who wrote numerous plays for her in which she celebrated triumphs on stage. Among her celebrated parts were the main parts in Le Jeu de l'amour et du hasard (1730), L'amante difficile (1731), Le Je ne sais quoi (1731), L'École des mères (1732), Arlequin apprenti philosophe (1733). Until his death in 1739, she mainly acted opposite Tommaso Visentini, thereafter opposite Antonio Costantini. Though she eventually replaced the parts as heroine for mother-roles, she remained one of the most celebrated actors of Paris until her retirement, and was in 1754 still referred to as a renowned perfect actor. Silvia Balletti retired in February 1758, shortly before her death. In 1720, she married her cousin Giuseppe (Joseph) Balletti, stage name Mario, who was her co-actor in hero parts. In 1750, she met Casanova, who was the friend of her son Antonio Stefano Balletti and courted her daughter Manon. • Illustration — Silvia with Tommaso Visentini, engraving by Laurent Cars after Nicolas Lancret • Illustration — Portrait of Silvia by Van Loo • Illustration — Thalia, the muse of acting. The model is presumed to be Silvia Balletti