A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Andreini, Isabella
ANDREINI, ISABELLA,
Was born at Padua, in 1562. She became an actress of great fame, and was flattered by the applauses of men of wit and learning of her time. The Italian theatre was considered, in that day, a literary institution. She is described as a woman of elegant figure, beautiful countenance, and melodious voice; of taste in her profession, and conversant with the French and Spanish languages; nor was she unacquainted with philosophy and the sciences. She was a votary of the muses, and cultivated poetry with ardour and success. The Intenti academicians of Pavia, conferred upon her the honours of their society, and the title of Isabella Andreini, Comica Gelosa, Academica Intenta, detta l'Accesa. She dedicated her works to cardinal Aldobrandini, (nephew to pope Clement the Eighth,) by whom she was greatly esteemed, and for whom many of her poems were composed. In France, whither she made a tour, she met with a most flattering reception from the king, the queen, and the court. She died in 1604, at Lyons, in the forty-second year of her age. Her husband was overwhelmed with affliction at her loss, and erected a monument to her memory, in the city in which she expired, inscribed with an epitaph commemorative of her virtues. The learned strove to outdo each other in pronouncing panegyrics on her character. Even a medal was struck to commemmorate her abilities, bearing her likeness on one side, and a figure of Fame on the other, with this inscription—"Æterna Fama."
Her works are numerous, and much admired by the lovers of Italian literature; they are readily found in print.