FIGARO

figaro, a famous dramatic character first introduced on the stage by beaumarchais in the _barbier de seville_, the _mariage de figaro_, and the _folle journee_. the name is said to be an old spanish and italian word for a wigmaker, connected with the verb _cigarrar_, to roll in paper. many of the traits of the character are to be found in earlier comic types of the roman and italian stage, but as a whole the conception was marked by great originality; and figaro soon, seized the popular imagination, and became the recognized representative of daring, clever and nonchalant roguery and intrigue. almost immediately after its appearance, mozart chose the _marriage of figaro_ as the subject of an opera, and the _barber of seville_ was treated first by paisiello, and afterwards in 1816 by rossini. in 1826 the name of the witty rogue was taken by a journal which continued till 1833 to be one of the principal parisian periodicals, numbering among its contributors such men as jules janin, paul lacroix, leon gozlan, alphonse karr, dr veron, jules sandeau and george sand. various abortive attempts were made to restore the _figaro_ during the next twenty years; and in 1854 the efforts of m. de villemessant were crowned with success (see newspapers: _france_). see marc monnier, _les aieux de figaro_ (1868); h. de villemessant, _memoires d'un journaliste_ (1867).