Valeria Miani  Valeria Miani (1563 – 1620) was a female playwright noted for her works Celinda, a Tragedy, and Amorosa Speranza. Miani married Domenico Negri in 1593, with whom she had five children, Isabetta, Isabella, Lucretia, Guilio, and Anzolo. Miani is known for being the first woman to publish a tragedy prior to the 18th century. In addition, she was the third woman in Italy to write in the newly popular genre, the pastoral. Miani's works explored themes such as cross-dressing, death and punishment, female virtue, and female resilience. Miani was born in the year 1563, most likely in the northern Italian city of Padua. While it is unknown who Miani's mother was, Miani's father was Vidal Miani, a practicing Paduan lawyer. In addition to earning an income by practicing law, he also taught law, and rented rooms to students. There is written record of Miani having two siblings, a brother who was a priest and a sister named Cornelia. Miani most likely had more siblings, as there would have been another son who would be the heir in the family. It would have been unlikely in this time period for a family to have their only son enter into the clergy, and have no son to continue the family line. There is no written record of where Miani attended school. However, many young girls in this century were educated in convents, so it is possible that Miani was educated in a convent as well. Miani did however, have contact with the Ricovrati of Padua, a society made up of intellectuals, and both foreign and domestic professors. This academy was founded in 1599, and was the first academy to be established in Padua. Among its 25 founders was Galileo Galilei, famed Italian astronomer and philosopher. Decades after Valeria Miani had contact with the Ricovrati, the academy became known for its wide acceptance of women into its membership. It is not known however, if the Ricovrati allowed women to become members in Miani's time, and if so, whether or not Miani was a member. Miani got married on September 22, 1593, at the age of 30. Her husband was Domenico Negri, a man whose occupation is unknown. The formal ceremony was at the Church of the Eremitani, while the marriage contract was signed in the groom's home city of Venice.