Page 88 - All About History - Issue 18-14

Casanova: The Ultimate Playboy

following his dalliances with the opposite sex and of cards had as much power over the ladykiller
Casanova has been depicted in many works of
art, like in this print by Auguste Leroux conducting his second sermon while drunk – or as an unattainable beauty. It would be the cause
within his talents, he began dabbling in alchemy of him losing several fortunes throughout his life,
and magic, then slightly more legitimate pursuits. but Casanova described himself as heartbroken
At 17, Casanova lost his virginity to two sisters. when he did not have money to gamble. This was
Finding himself alone with the girls, daughters of a frequently the case during his early days in Venice
noble family, he shared a meal and wine with the until a chance encounter altered his fortunes. While
siblings before the night degenerated into what he playing the violin for money, Casanova saved the
described as “ever-varied skirmishes.” It was typical life of a Venetian nobleman, Don Matteo Bragadin,
of Casanova’s buccaneering sexual career that he who was experiencing a fit. The grateful nobleman
should conspire to begin it with group sex, but the subsequently became his patron, paying his new
two – Nanetta and Marta Savorgnan – were just the charge handsomely to do little and indulge his
first of many outlandish rendezvous. various fancies. Clad in the finest clothes money
A tall young man with striking features – could buy, with little else to do to fill his days, this
described as of Moorish complexion, with dark, inevitably meant chasing women, gambling and
curly hair and a large nose – Casanova was a sturdy
physical specimen in his day, ‘built like Hercules’
according to a friend. Casanova thought himself as
having the ”power to please at first sight, which I
possessed in such measure.” It was a power he put
to good use. Pregnancies
As a young man Casanova developed what was Despite apparently fathering up to eight children
to become a life-long vice: gambling. 18th-century Casanova was an exponent of contraception,
using early versions of condoms made with
Venice was rife with gambling dens and a deck sheep guts and even advocating lemons as an
effective protection against unwanted pregnancies.
Casanova also concocted a potion consisting of
saffron and myrrh intended to abort a pregnancy.
It didn’t work.

or a mixture of the three. In reality the Venetian What happened: Unable to resist the
appeal of the taboo, Casanova pursued a sexual
schemes that allowed him to defraud her and live
torrid years, enlightening the smitten nun in the
Profession: Aristocrat playboy dreamed up a succession of unlikely relationship with MM over the course of two
Name: Henriette off her considerable riches. ways of physical love.
How did he woo her ? On the run from Was it true love? More likely a Did you know? MM was already the lover
her unpleasant husband, Henriette was disguised
of the French ambassador to Venice, who had
metaphorical marriage of convenience for both,
as a soldier when Casanova first met her in 1749.
Casanova’s reputation as an alchemist made him
arranged the affair. Casanova enjoyed group sex
Casanova was instantly smitten by her intelligence
with the nun, her lover and Casanova’s former
sought after by rich cranks all over Europe. His
and beauty. Although she was sleeping with
another man when they met, they quickly became
to the Marquise; her wealth and status appealed
ironically been sent to the convent for safe
keeping by her father.
lovers. promises of restoring youth and vitality appealed partner, 14-year-old Caterina Capretta, who had
to him.
Was it true love? What happened: The Marquise
Undoubtedly – on his part at least. Casanova
described himself as “enslaved” by his love for eventually tired of Casanova’s failed schemes Profession: Daughter of Italian actors
and dispensed with his services; his cover blown,
Name: Manon Balletti
Henriette, claiming that their three months Casanova fled France in disgrace.
together were the happiest of his life. “They who
believe that a woman is incapable of making a How did he woo her? Casanova first
met Manon Balletti when she was ten years old,
man equally happy all the 24 hours of the day Did you know? The final straw in the commencing a relationship seven years later,
have never known an Henriette”, he wrote of her. relationship came with Casanova’s failed attempt which lasted for three years.
to aid the Marquise in giving birth to herself.
What happened: Casanova conveyed Despite being on the receiving end of three
bouts of lovemaking from the Venetian fraud, the
Henriette to Parma, hired her a maid and an Marquise remained un-reincarnated. Was it true love?
Certainly for her part – she described him as “My
Italian language teacher, and lavished his relatively
meagre funds on her. Upon making contact lover, my husband, my friend.” When Casanova
was stuck in a Parisian debtor’s prison, Manon
with her father, Henriette returned to her family,
making him promise to not acknowledge her Name: MM sent a pair of diamond earrings to buy him out,
Profession: Nun
several years after their relationship had ended.
should they meet again. Casanova remembered
it in his autobiography as one of the saddest She believed he would end his days with her
moments in his life. How did he woo her? Extraordinarily, when he eventually settled down.
Did you know? After she had left, he did not. Casanova was handed a note, while What happened: At the age of 20, Manon
attending the Venetian convent of Santa Maria
Casanova found the words “You will also forget
degli Angeli, instructing him to name the time and
married a more reputable man, to Casanova’s
Henriette” scratched on the window of their room
dismay. When she died at the age of 36, Casanova
place for their assignation, to which she would
with the diamond ring he had given her. It was still
through his unfaithfulness.
theredecadeslater. readily submit. The wooer was wooed. blamed himself for causing her heartache
Was it true love?
Profession: Oneoftherichestwomenin True lust, perhaps. The object of Casanova’s Did you know?
Manon’s famous portrait – painted by Jean-Marc
attentions had renounced her vow of chastity,
France while he was beside himself at the prospect of Nattier – currently hangs in Room 33 of the
Name: The Marquise d’Urfé tasting ‘forbidden fruit’, as he put it. The two National Portrait Gallery in London.
confirmed the union without having previously
How did he woo her? Casanova met one another, so mutually attracted were they.
became an advisor to the Marquise, who indulged
his advice through pity, desperation, ignorance