It may be encrusted with jewels and precious stones or decked with feathers, lace and ribbons, and painted. Eventually the wearing of masks was so ubiquitous that the government … After the 1100s, the masquerade went through periods of being outlawed by the Catholic  Church, especially during holy days. Wearing Venetian masks has spread to Halloween masquerade balls and what North and South Americans call Mardi Gras, but they always carry their rich Italian history. Some wore them to pursue amorous relationships in secret; Casanova wrote in his memoirs about romantic trysts with masked women, and how he was nearly apprehended by masked police. As is typical of those who have risen from poverty, he is often most cruel to those beneath him on the social ladder. It is the most significant one in the history of the venetian mask: it was about hiding your own identity during the everyday life in the Repubblica di Venezia.. Legend has it that a man who owned nothing but his old cat came to Venice from China. BAUTA is famous through the Carnival of Venice as it is the main type of mask worn during the Carnival. Other names: Dottore Balanzone, Dottore Baloardo, Dottore Graziano. CAPITAN SCARAMOUCHE either a young man of adventure or a quite old mariner, a boasting, swashbuckling officer, often Spanish, dressed-to-kill in cape, feathered hat, high boots, with sword in belt, was always a prime favorite. Women's clothing became more revealing; homosexuality, while publicly condemned, was embraced by the populace. The origins of the name are uncertain. By then, Commedia Dell'Arte had arisen, a type of theater in which actors wore elaborate masks, and Mardi Gras festivals were appearing in North and South America. If you're making a papier-mache mask, begin by creating a plaster mold and then lightly applying petroleum jelly to prevent the mask and mold from becoming inseparably stuck together. The tradition of masking has a long tradition in Venice. Starting in Italy, Jester moved into all of Europe, influencing theatre in Spain, Holland, Germany, Austria, England, and especially, France. He is an inveterate schemer. Pulcinella was the model for Punch in the English variation Punch and Judy. They were made in unusual shapes and used in unusual ways. In fact, the roles were often played by males in women's clothing and wigs, in travesti, as it is called. Welcome to Smart Art History, your Art History crash course! Frequently paired with other Zanni as his assistants or employees, Brighella's plans were frequently foiled by their own ineptitude. According to Pierre Louis Ducharte, Burrattino puppet's influence in Italy was so great that "by the end of the sixteenth century, all marionettes operated by strings and a wire were called burattini, instead of bagatelli or fantoccini, as they had been known up to that time.". He is loosely categorized as one of the Zanni or servant characters though he often was portrayed as a member of the middle class such as a tavern owner. Read about many interesting facts about masks. It therefore lasted more than two months. Masks might represent old women, doctors, young lovers, nobles, beggars, foreigners, or characters from the theater entertainment known as Commedia dell’Arte. Additionally, the masks served an important social purpose of keeping every citizen on an equal playing field. Capitano Scaramouche, Capitano Metamoros, Capitaine Fracasse, Captain Horribilicribilifax, Ralph Roister Doister, and Bobadil. The Role of Masks in Everyday Life The Venice Carnival (Carnevale) began on the 26th December and ended on Shrove Tuesday. The immense amount of travelers coming through the city meant that sexual promiscuity was commonplace and acceptable. His costume consisted of loosely fitting, white smock and pants with green trim and was often equipped with a battachio or slapstick. Many times he remains poor, constantly hungry. In the beginning of 18th century, London was introduced with a semi-public masquerade ball inspired from the Venetian fashion and masks by a Swiss count, John James Heidegger. This mask has a very unique history. Its origins are centuries old, and it still attracts thousands of tourists each year who arrive in Venice to admire the sumptuous costumes and masks parading in the streets and squares. Made for centuries in Venice, these distinctive masks were formed from  paper-mache and wildly decorated with fur, fabric, gems, or feathers. Classroom is the educational resource for people of all ages. His traditional temperament is to be mean, vicious, and crafty: Pulcinella main mode of defense is to pretend to be too stupid to know what's going on, and his secondary mode is to physically beat people. He is an obese man that enjoys the bottle and eating to excess. Known throughout the world is the Venetian mask which was born in 1600 and still typical of modern disguises: the “Bauta”, that is a white mask called ” larva “, dominated by a black three-cornered hat and completed by a dark cloak. 10% DISCOUNT FOR ORDERS OVER $500, WE SELL WHOLESALE PLEASE CONTACT US FOR DETAILS LEARN MORE, WE OFFER SAFE SHOPPING ALL PERSONAL INFORMATION YOU SUBMIT IS INCRYPTED AND 100% SECURE LEARN MORE, EXPRESS SHIPPING IS AVAILABLE CHOOSE UPS 3 DAY, 2 DAY, or NEXT DAY DURING CHECKOUT LEARN MORE, WEARING GLASSESS? See disclaimer. DESIGN YOUR OWN LEARN MORE. Their hats were especially distinctive; made of cloth, they were floppy with three points, each of which had a jingle bell at the end. The three points of the hat represent the asses' ears and tail worn by Jesters in earlier times. back to top Commedia dell'Arte. Even the nuns and monks of the clergy, bejeweled and dressed in the latest imported creations, wore masks and engaged in the same acts as the majority of their fellow citizens. JESTER, or JOLLY as a female variant, is a specific type of clown mostly associated with the Middle Ages. BURRATINO is a minor character from the Commedia dell'arte, one from the Zanni class.He is often not a servant, but is not well to do either. He traditionally wears a large codpiece to advertise his virility, which everyone around him knows to be long gone. In Venice, mask-wearing helped to bridge social divisions. So most of all Venetian casinos became crowded with these masks – as Guardi’s painting proves. The female characters, however, were usually not masked. Opposed to the Magnifici (the masters), the role of the Zanni is very changeable: silly, simple-minded, and vulgar. He is often extremely rich, generally with "old" money, though the needs of the scenario might have things otherwise. While generally depicted as quite stupid and greedy (in a gastronomic sense) his acrobatics were what an audience expected to see. This period evolved into Carnival, the pre-Lent celebration meaning, "remove meat." The wearing of masks in Venice is a tradition which goes back as far as the 12th century, and historians speculate that it was a response to one of the most rigid class structures in all of Europe. He frequently wears a hat, and long, trailing robes. Others say it could come from Harlenkoenig, a Scandinavian hero. Venetian masks have a long history of protecting their wearer's identity during promiscuous or decadent activities. Once inside the city environment Zanni becomes sly, cunning, meddling, and cheeky. Stripes to your Venetian mask full of interesting things masquerade masks are authentic and all hand made in Venice by! To see more colorful and exquisite Venetian masks continue to dazzle tourists dancers. 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