Gustavo Fratellini

Italian circus performer

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June 26, 2026

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Gustavo Fratellini (1842–1905) was an Italian circus performer and follower of Giuseppe Garibaldi. He was a trapeze artist and acrobat. Gustavo was the father of the famous Fratellini Brothers: Paul, Fran\u00e7ois, and Albert, who became renowned clowns. While Gustavo was a performer, his sons achieved greater fame, particularly for their clown act that revitalized interest in the circus in post-World War I Paris. The Fratellini family has a long tradition in circus performance, with descendants continuing the legacy as successful clowns. Antonio Franconi, considered the founder of the French circus, also had a significant impact on circus history, though he is not directly related to Gustavo Fratellini.12

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Fratellini Family
Their father, Gustavo Fratellini (1842–1905), a Florentine follower of the Italian patriot Giuseppi Garibaldi, was a circus trapeze artist and acrobat, and their elder brother, Louis (1867–1909), worked as a clown with Paul. François and Albert also began their careers as a pair. When Louis died in…
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Their father, Gustavo Fratellini (1842–1905), a Florentine follower of the Italian patriot Giuseppi Garibaldi, was a circus trapeze artist and acrobat, and their elder brother, Louis (1867–1909), worked as a clown with Paul. François and Albert also began their careers as a pair. When Louis died in…
Read More