Quick Facts
Biography
Giovanna Baccelli, real name Giovanna Francesca Antonia Giuseppe Zanerini, (1753–1801) was a Venetian ballerina who was the principal ballerina at the King's Theatre, Haymarket.
Early life
Giovanna Baccelli was born Giovanna Francesca Antonia Giuseppe Zanerini in Venice in 1753. She took her mother's name of Baccelli as her stage name.
Career
She was the principal ballerina at the King's Theatre, Haymarket.
She was the mistress of John Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset. Dorset commissioned a painting of her (above) in 1780–81 from Thomas Gainsborough, which is considered to be one of Gainsborough's later masterpieces. He also commissioned a painting by Joshua Reynolds and a sculpture showing her nude and prone on a divan and cushions; this is still to be found at Knole. When made Ambassador to France, Dorset even took her to Paris with him, and she danced at the Opera by invitation. (When he was made Knight of the Garter (KG), she wore the blue ribbon of the Garter while dancing)
Children
Dorset and Giovanna had a son together: John Frederick Sackville (1778–1796), who was raised by his father at Paris and Knole after the couple parted in 1789.
Death
Baccelli died in 1801.