Smaraolo Cornuto

Smaraolo Cornuto — the cuckolded husband — represents one of the commedia dell'arte's most resonant character types, the deceived spouse whose obliviousness to his own humiliation provided endless comic material. The 'cornuto' (horned one) was a figure of comic scorn across Mediterranean theatrical traditions, embodying the social anxieties around marital fidelity and masculine honor that were central preoccupations of early modern European society. De Clermont's inclusion of this character type in the Lansdowne House series of 1742 reflects the English aristocracy's comfortable familiarity with Continental theatrical satire. The character's universality — recognizable across linguistic barriers — made him particularly suitable for a decorative program that transcended its Italian theatrical origins.

The single figure composition uses De Clermont's typical clear outline and flat decorative color. The character's expressive pose and comic costume details are rendered with precision to identify the type, while the overall treatment maintains the elegant, ornamental quality of the complete series.