Representing Spanish Mercinary Soldiers;
despised by the Italians and ridiculed in the theatre of the
marketplace, Il Capitano became a popular stock character of
the Commedia Dell'Arte.
Newman has used the 17th century
engravings of Jaques Callot to create a variety of takes on
the shabby, bombastic and cowardly Capitano and created a few
new nincompoops to boot (ie Capitano Tres Huevos.... most men
have only two!).
