right|thumb|Pantalone, by [[Maurice Sand]]

Pantalone (), spelled Pantaloon in English, is one of the most important principal characters found in commedia dell'arte. With his exceptional greed and status at the top of the social order, Pantalone is "money" in the commedia world. His full name, including family name, is Pantalon de' Bisognosi, Italian for 'Pantalone of the Needy'.

Character

Pantalone originated as part of a master/servant duo and was the original Il Magnifico stock character. Carlo Goldoni, in his memoirs, named Pantalone as one of the four primary commedia dell'arte characters. Among other things, Pantalone is a character of Venetians; one theory is that his name derives from Saint Pantaleon (San Pantalone), a popular saint in Venice. Another theory is that his name derives from Venetian merchants who were called Piantaleoni. The name Pantaloon came to generally mean 'old fool' or 'dotard'.

The role of Pantalone is usually spoken entirely in the Venetian language. The character of Pantalone is entirely based on currency and ego, for he has the highest regard for his intelligence, "but at every step he becomes the butt for every conceivable kind of trick". Pantalone is usually the father to one of the innamorati (the lovers), another stock character found in commedia. He is driven to keep his child and their respective lover apart. Pantalone is presented either as a widower or bachelor, and despite his age, makes numerous passes at the women within the commedia world, "though he is always rejected". He is also described as being petty, and he never forgets or forgives even the smallest things.

Pantalone is characterized as loving his money and having emotional extremes. In a commedia drama, many Zanni or lazzi routines will begin by an action delivered by Pantalone himself. Pantalone is described as being too self-absorbed to notice and interact much with the audience, but he is so oblivious that it serves the same purpose.

Pantalone's inappropriate enthusiasm for the young ladies inside the commedia world is abundantly borne out in the previously mentioned Capriccii. "Of all the twenty-seven pieces, ten allude to ladies in their titles alone, either just as a lady (donna), or as spouse (mogier), house cleaner and courtesan (Massara, Padrona) whores (puttane), sweetheart (morosa), and darling (innamorata)."

Sexual symbolism is very prominent as illustrated in Della bellezza, and crudeltà d'una donna, one elderly person communicates along these lines:

:vorria d'amante libero

:farme servo, e desidero

:nel mar de l'appetito

:tegnir el timon dritto

:al vassello, e d'accorto

:vorria ficcarme in porto

:[I would like, as a free lover,

:to help myself, and I desire

:in the sea of appetite

:to keep the ship's rudder

:straight, and smartly,

:would I like to thrust myself into port].

Stance

thumb|Tomás Marín Gómez as Pantaleón

The traditional Pantalone stance is that of a hunch-backed old man. He walks with his hips forward, allowing him to make larger strides when he walks. The hunched shape restricts his legs, which are bent and turned out at the knees. The feet have the heels together with the toes facing apart. His hands and feet move quickly, although his body is stiff, and his head is constantly moving. Pantalone is slow moving, and he has bouts of agility when there is high emotion, but it is followed by asthmatic breathing and panting. Pantalone is often short and skinny. The costume for Pantalone is characterized by the use of red for almost the entire costume. The characteristics of the costume also include a Greek style hat, a jacket, a pair of long trousers or breeches with stockings, a tight jacket, a woollen skullcap, a robe or cape, a prominent codpiece or strategically placed coin purse, He occasionally is noted as having horn spectacles. He occasionally carries a walking stick, but it is used more as an aggravating weapon than an actual walking tool.