Coviello (theater character)

Coviello after a figurine by Maurice Sand

Coviello is a male Zanni - that is, servant figure of the Commedia dell'arte . In addition to Arlecchino , he is often a partner of Pulcinella . However, the dominance of the former may be the reason why this mask disappeared from the stage from the 17th century.

His attributes are feathers on his head and a mandolin in hand. He is boastful, mostly stupid and clever at the same time, has wit and understanding, and is often a cunning swindler who also performs all kinds of ambiguous gestures with his mandolin.

He is z. B. in Molières Le Bourgeois gentilhomme (German: The citizen as nobleman ) to find.

literature

• Karl Riha : Commedia dell'arte. With the figurines of Maurice Sands . Insel, Frankfurt am Main 1980, ISBN 3-458-19007-4 ( Insel-Bücherei 1007), (several editions).