an Italian writer and actor of the commedia dell'arte theatrical genre. He was also known as Beltrame di Milano ("Beltrame of Milan") in reference to one of his most popular characters, Beltrame; this was the main character of one of Barbieri's best known plays, L'inavertito, which is known to have inspired Moliere's L'Étourdi ou Les Contretemps ("The Blunderer"). Besides popularizing Beltrame, Barbieri is also credited with creating another commedia dell'arte mask, Scapino. Barbieri was a successful author and actor, and one of those that toured Europe; he is known, for example, to have played at the royal court of France.
