Born: 1763 (Lucca, Tuscany)
Died: 1837 (Lucca, Tuscany)
Biography:
Teresa Landucci Bandettini, also known by her Arcadian name Amarilli Etrusca, was an Italian dancer, composer of extemporaneous verse, and poet, who is remembered as the Figurante Poetesca (literary ballerina).
Born on 11 August 1763 in the city of Lucca, Tuscany, Teresa Bandettini came from a humble background. Unfortunately, her parents, Benedetto Bandettini and Maria Alba Micheli, passed away when she was just seven years old. Despite this tragic loss, Bandettini’s passion for dance led her to adopt the name Amarilli Etrusca and pursue a career as a dancer.
In 1789, Bandettini met the Lucchese Pietro Landucci in Imola and the two got married. This marked a significant shift in her career, as she transitioned from dancing to improvisation. Bandettini’s unique talent lay in creating and delivering verse on the spot, based on random suggestions provided by a willing audience. People were captivated by her emotional delivery and the creative process behind her improvised poetry.
Bandettini’s talents caught the attention of Count Ludovico Savioli, who became her patron. He not only financed the publication of one of her early poems, The Death of Adonis, but also had it illustrated by Francesco Rosaspina. With her background in dancing, it is no surprise that Bandettini came to be known as the Figurante Poetesca, or the literary ballerina. In addition to extemporaneous verse, she also composed poetry, often taking more time to perfect her creations before publishing.
During her lifetime, Bandettini was recognized as an important writer. The renowned Italian poet Maria Maddalena Morelli, also known as Corilla Olimpica, dedicated some of her final poetry to Bandettini. The poet Angelica Kauffman, a member of the Arcadian Academy, painted a portrait of Bandettini in 1794, highlighting her admiration for Bandettini’s skills.
In a remarkable discovery in 2002, it was revealed that the young composer Niccolò Paganini had dedicated six sonatas to Bandettini, shedding light on the significant impact she had on the artistic community of her time.
Teresa Bandettini passed away in Lucca in 1837, leaving behind a legacy as a talented and influential figure in the world of improvisation and poetry.