Eugenio Franceschini got his Shakespeare tattoo at 17, after a night at Budapest’s Sziget Festival that ended with rain, flooding and a disrupted Metallica set. The lettering isn’t perfect. He has said so himself, and he still likes it because it takes him back to that morning.
Across his left trapezius, it reads a line from The Tempest: “We are such stuff as dreams are made on.” Italian reports give the wording as “Siamo fatti della stessa sostanza dei sogni.”
The story is about a decision made in the moment, and why he has kept the result as it was.
Eugenio Franceschini’s Shakespeare Tattoo
The photograph shows a small black line design on Franceschini’s upper back; reporting identifies it as the quote he has described in interviews. It sits on the left trapezius, where the shoulder slopes into the back.
He has said the words come from Prospero’s speech in The Tempest, his favourite Shakespeare play. The line is often translated as “We are such stuff as dreams are made on,” though versions vary. Franceschini’s own tattoo uses Italian lettering.
There’s no frame or extra imagery around the words. The design stays simple and lets the quote carry the meaning.
A Strange Morning in Budapest
Franceschini told Rolling Stone Italia he went to Sziget to see Metallica. Heavy rain and flooding on Óbuda Island disrupted the festival. When the generators stopped, people began making music and dancing in the rain.
The next morning, on his way back to his tent, he got the tattoo. There was no long search for a font or careful design plan. Franceschini has said the lettering wasn’t executed particularly well, and that the uneven result is part of what makes it his.
The story can inspire a spontaneous idea without requiring a rushed appointment. Take time to check the words, artist and placement before making the memory permanent.
A Closer Look
The black-and-white Vogue Italia portraits are editorial images, not close-up evidence of the tattoo. They show Franceschini in tailored clothing and help place the mark near the shoulder line, though the lettering itself isn’t clear.
The trapezius slopes between the neck, shoulder and back, so text there needs to follow the body rather than sit as a straight line. Franceschini’s left-side placement also keeps the quote away from the centre of his back.
The spot is easy to cover under a shirt. If you want lettering that appears in some photos but stays hidden day to day, ask the artist to test it at its actual size and on a body-shaped stencil.
When the Finish Isn’t Perfect
Franceschini’s account isn’t an argument for careless work. He likes the tattoo despite its uneven execution because it is tied to a night he remembers. A tattooer can still make lettering readable and help it age well.
Small text needs enough space and careful placement. If you’re choosing a line in another language, ask a fluent speaker to check it; Shakespeare translations and editions can differ.
Meaning and craft can both matter. You can keep the personal story while giving the artist time to make the design clear.
Who Is Eugenio Franceschini?
Eugenio Franceschini is an actor from Verona. His parents worked as performers and puppeteers, and he spent much of his childhood travelling with their company. He later moved to Rome to study at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia.
His work includes Italian film, television and theatre, including I Medici, Sconnessi and Io che amo solo te. He became better known internationally as Marcello in Emily in Paris. The tattoo dates to his teens, years before the role.
Finding Your Own Reference
If you’re considering a quote tattoo, start with a line that means something to you, not one you chose only because a celebrity has it. Read it at the size you have in mind and decide where the line breaks should go.
Ask the artist to fit the lettering to the part of the body. The trapezius slopes, ribs move with each breath and forearms turn; a layout that looks balanced on a screen may shift on skin.
Franceschini’s story began at a concert, but your reason doesn’t need to be dramatic. Choose a moment or idea you’ll still want to carry years from now.
The Bottom Line
Franceschini’s Shakespeare quote sits on his left trapezius. He got it at 17 after the rain-soaked Sziget night, and he has said the imperfect lettering is part of its story. The lasting point is the personal connection; the words and design still deserve careful checking.
If you want to see Franceschini discuss his work and background, the interview below adds context: