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In
Scaino’s time tennis was the most prominent physical exercise practised at
court. Through the publication of the first book of tennis rules Alfonso tried
to enhance his prestige and assert the Este’s authority as patrons of tennis
over their rivals the Medici of Florence. Duke Cosimo I de Medici was as
passionate a tennis player as Alfonso and was said not to engage in any
political activities during the day until he had played his routine game of
tennis in the morning.
When Cosimo stayed at the Medici Villa of Poggio a
Caiano he usually played a match in the evening as well. Most of Alfonso and
Cosimo’s contemporary rivals liked to engage in an invigorating game of tennis
as well. The Gonzaga dukes of Mantua in particular made sure they could play
tennis whenever they felt like it, and had courts erected at their main
residences: Mantua’s Palazzo Ducale, Palazzo Te, Palazzo San Sebastiano,
their country villa Marmirolo and at the family castle in Gonzaga.
Duke Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy played pillotta matches of more
than three hours.
Parma, another state with strong Spanish links, in the
beginning of the 17th century had its main castle, the Palazzo
della Pilotta, named after the ballgame. All these Italian princes hailed
the game for its ancient heritage, its chivalric image as well as for the
excitement the game provided to bet on the outcome of the match. Antonio Scaino
related to all these aspects in his Trattato.
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Plan of the Palazzo Te in Mantua, with the
rachetta court in the right wing of the palace |
Tennis, a Game of War
As
might be expected from a philosopher, Scaino does not only supply a
comprehensive set of rules, but combines these with moralising and educational
interpretations of the game of tennis. Besides Scaino incorporates a rich
repertoire of references to the chivalrous qualities the game of tennis
possesses. He describes why tennis is the most rewarding exercise for the
relaxation of the body and recreation of the mind, also from a military point of
view.
The judicious spectator will easily be able to judge of the tennis
player’s value in the profession of arms: whether he remains calm under all
circumstances, is not too daring or too timid, how he is able to constrain his
opponent. From this game valiant Capitani can gain much advice for the arranging
of their armies, the planning of a battle, the capture of a stronghold, the most
opportune time to advance or retreat. Besides a tennis match can give you a
better insight into your opponent’s character, whether he is truthful and
generous or cowardly, quarrelsome and impatient.
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Chateau Ecouen with tennis court (Du Cerceau
1576) |
Alfonso’s Tennis Play
In
his typical, exalted style Scaino states that this ballgame deserves such
honour that there be no Prince or great Lord or King who does not admire it to
the limit of his power. Alfonso was, indeed, one of the most passionate
tennis players of his time. Every day he made sure he either received lessons
from one of the four tennis pros (racchettieri) in his retinue or he
played with his friends.
On special occasions the Duke of Ferrara employed as
many as 9 tennis pros who performed their versatile skills before Alfonso’s
honorary guests. According to Canigiani, the Florentine ambassador to the Este
court, Alfonso on 21 December 1564 started his match against the Count of Mirandola at 4.00 p.m. and they did not finish it until 9 o’clock, in spite of
the fact that it snowed continuously. In one of Alfonso’s other competitive
matches it is recorded how the Marquis of Pesaro, a player of some repute,
unexpectedly left the court saying “I thought I would play a Prince (Principe),
not a Maestro”. The Marquis had failed to win a game from his host. He
must have felt all the more frustrated because he had lost some money as well.
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Villa Mondragone near Rome, with
original open tennis court on
the right |
The Prince on the Tennis Court
Watching Alfonso play during one of the tournaments played at the indoor tennis
court of his ducal palace in Ferrara must have caused great pleasure among the
fortunate courtiers and dignitaries who had been invited to watch this private
court spectacle. As soon as the charismatic ruler had taken off his cloak of
dignity and engaged in sport, a game within a game developed in which the true
face of the prince was revealed. His mask was removed, so to say, and he
performed on an equal basis where only the code of conduct of the game of tennis
prevailed.
Besides the confined enclosure of the Duke’s tennis court created an
intimate atmosphere, where the spectators alongside the court could hear every
sound and see every stroke that was made. His Majesty ran, sweat, scrambled all
over the court to retrieve the ball, just like the common folk. He may
occasionally have shown his frustration and cursed his opponent’s shotmaking.
But not just any individual could be admitted to the courtly game. There was a
significant difference with the game of tennis that was played in the streets by
the lower orders. Those who did not know the rules had to be excluded. The
courtier’s behaviour was controlled by regulation, for the game of tennis this
was Scaino’s tennis bible.
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Synagogue in Cassale Monferrato, which
originally was a tennis court (1597) |
Betting
In the Renaissance a monetary stake during play was seen as a legitimate
practice, especially in dexterity sports such as tennis where genuine ability
prevailed. A man who does not gamble, does not live (The Italian “giocare” can
mean both “play” and “gamble”). For a prince betting was a virtue: Alfonso’s
personal accounts concerned with courtly gambling make clear that there was
always a distinction between sums “lost playing” and those “given playing”. The
former was paid to the winners after a lost match, the latter as a sort of
compensation to the loser.
The expenses drawn from the ducal accounts of
February 1578 for parlour games, for playing cards with the Duchess and her
ladies-in-waiting, for example amounted to 700 gold scudi. This monthly
gambling figure is only a small sum compared with the stakes of some of
Alfonso’s contemporary rulers. According to the Venetian ambassador’s report of
1517 Pope Leo X spent 60,000 ducats from his annuities on games and Vincenzo II
Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua, in just two evenings lost 15,000 lire, corresponding to
the yearly wages of 100 members of his court. These excessive stakes should not
just be interpreted as extravagant waste, however. The game at court became a
possibility for redistribution, a disguised reward for services rendered.
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