Masks and Manners: Carnivale in Venice

Ridotto by Pietro Longhi

I meant to write about the Venetian carnival and in particular, Venetian carnival masks, months ago, as they played a part in my fourth novel, A Masked Earl. But along the way, things happened (edits on my fifth novel and beginning my sixth,  baking for a Toys for Tots bake sale, the holiday season). Now that we're in pandemic lock-down mode, I'm catching up. 

Moretta 

While the masks are worn during the Carnival, in earlier periods they were also employed for other functions: at official ceremonies, at the theater, for anonymity, and to allow women to go unescorted. Many of the masks were adapted from the Commedia dell’ Arte. The ones I've listed are only the best known characters. Some Italian cities have their own local characters as well.

Moretta: The black oval female mask, held in place by gripping an interior button or protrusion with one’s teeth fell out of use (understandably, I think) in the second half of the 18^th century.   

 

Arlecchino (Harlequin) is distinguished by his multi-colored, diamond-patterned costume. He is a high-spirited, clever servant.

Arlecchino and Columbina

Columbina

Columbina uses a half-mask. She is the heroine's chatty servant, Arlecchino's mistress, and the sensible character in the performance. You would hardly guess it by the way she is leaning on Arlecchino here.

Pantalone

Pantalone: Depicted as a Venetian, self-absorbed, greedy, and petty, his role is often to separate the two lovers in any Commedia dell’ Arte piece. 

Pulcinella: Dressed in a baggy costume of long pants and a sort of shirt or smock, and distinguished by his hunchback and crooked nose, Pulcinella is the origin of Punch in English Punch and Judy puppet shows.  In the Commedia dell’ Arte tradition, he is either a cunning schemer or a bumpkin.

Pulcinella

Larva or Volto

Larva or volto mask: A white, full-face mask worn by commoners, apparently so boring I could find almost nothing about it on the Internet except one site which alleged that it metamorphosed into the Bautta mask.

A modern Bautta mask

Bautta: By the 18^th century, the bautta mask was required for political events in which citizens had to be anonymous. It was restricted to nobles and the upper middle class (which suggests that anyone of lower status was not considered a citizen). The effect of the bautta mask with black tricorne and black or red cape is sinister in the extreme: think Darth Vader in the 18^th century. 

Venetian Carnival masquerade