A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Riccoboni, Marte Laboras-Mezieres
RICCOBONI, MARTE LABORAS-MEZIERES,
Was born at Paris, in 1714. She married Luigi Riccoboni, an actor, and also an author of several successful comedies, and of various works on the literature of the drama. He was considered the first among the Italian comedians, but he retired from the stage, owing to religious scruples. His wife contributed, by her taste and her advice, to the success of his productions. Before Madame Riccoboni, the novels of the Abbé Prevost enjoyed a great reputation; doubtless these gave the impulse to this lady when she timidly presented to the public works of the same description, but which were destined entirely to eclipse the tedious commonplaces and unnatural incidents which make up the "Deau of Coleraine," the "Adventures of a Man of Quality," etc.
Madame Riccoboni has written quite a numerous collection of fictitious histories, the least interesting of which would not suffer in comparison with any of the contemporary novels; the best is usually considered to be "Juliette de Catesby;" it is written with grace and vivacity, the thoughts are true and well expressed, and the details natural and interesting. She also translated Fielding's "Amelia," and made a continuation of Marivaux's "Mariane," with a most successful imitation of the style and manners of that author. Madame Riccoboni died in poverty, at the age of sixty-eight, in 1762 With her abilities, her worth, and her amiable disposition, she deserved a happier fate.