Beolco, Angelo

Beolco, Angelo änjĕˈlō bāôlˈkō [key], 1502–42, Italian actor and playwright. While managing farms belonging to his family, Beolco had much contact with Paduan peasants, with whom he was deeply sympathetic. Their way of life formed the background for his rustic comedies featuring the peasant “Ruzzante,” the name commonly given Beolco himself. Using the Paduan dialect, he brought great descriptive powers to his witty depiction of country life.

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