Salvini, TOMMASO,

Salvini, TOMMASO, tragedian, was born at Milan, 1st January 1830, his father and mother both being actors. The boy, who showed early aptitude, was trained under Modena, a distinguished player, and became well known as a member of Ristori's company. In 1849 he fought with distinction in the revolutionary war; and returning to the stage played with eminent success as Edipus in a play written for Salvini by Nicolini, and as Saul in Alfieri's drama. In Paris he played in these, in Racine's plays, and as Shakespeare's Othello—the part with which he is identified in the minds of English playgoers. He scored successes in Brussels and Madrid, and visited the United States in 1874, England in 1875, with as great éclat. But after another visit to the United States in 1881, and to Britain in 1884, he retired from the stage to enjoy a life of learned leisure in his villa near Florence. Amongst his most striking parts were—besides Othello—Hamlet, Macbeth, and Lear. See Leaves from the Autobiography of Tommaso Salvini (1893).—His son Alexander adopted his father's career, and inherited much of his talent.