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For the folk tune, see Carnival of Venice (song).
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[edit] History
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After a long absence, the Carnival returned to operate in 1979.[4] The Italian government decided to bring back the history and culture of Venice, and sought to use the traditional Carnival as the centerpiece of their efforts. Today, approximately 3 million visitors come to Venice every year for Carnivals.[5] One of the most important events is the contest for the best mask, placed at the last weekend of the Carnival. A jury of international costume and fashion designers votes for "La Maschera più bella".
[edit] Venetian carnival masks
Masks have always been a main feature of the Venetian carnival.Traditionally people were allowed to wear them between the festival of Santo Stefano (St. Stephen's Day, December 26) and the start of the carnival season and midnight of Shrove Tuesday. They have always been around Venice. As masks were also allowed on Ascension and from October 5 to Christmas, people could spend a large proportion of the year in disguise [3]. Maskmakers (mascherari) enjoyed a special position in society, with their own laws and their own guild.Venetian masks can be made in leather, porcelain or with the original glass technique. The original masks were rather simple in design, decoration, and often had a symbolic and practical function.[6] Nowadays, most of them are made with the application of gesso and gold leaf and are all hand-painted using natural feathers and gems to decorate.
[edit] History
There is very little evidence explaining the motive for the earliest mask wearing in Venice. One scholar argues that covering the face in public was a uniquely Venetian response to one of the most rigid class hierarchies in European history.[7]The first documented sources mentioning the use of masks in Venice can be found as far back as the 13th century.[8] The Great Council made it a crime to throw scented eggs.[7] The document decrees that masked persons were forbidden to gamble.[9]
Another law in 1339 forbade Venetians from wearing vulgar disguises and visiting nun's convents while masked. The law also prohibits painting one's face, or wearing false beards or wigs.[8]
Near the end of the Republic, the wearing of masks in daily life was severely restricted. By the 18th century, it was limited only to about three months from December 26. The masks were traditionally worn with decorative beads matching in color.
[edit] Types of masks
[edit] Bauta
In 18th century, together with a black cape called "Tabarro", the Bauta had become a standardized society mask and disguise regulated by the Venetian government.[10][11] It was obligatory to wear it at certain political decision-making events when all citizens were required to act anonymously as peers. Only citizens had the right to use the Bauta. Its role was similar to the anonymizing processes invented to guarantee general, direct, free, equal and secret ballots in modern democracies.
It was not allowed to wear weapons along with the mask, and police had the right to enforce this ruling.
[edit] Columbina
The Columbina (also known as Columbine and Columbino) is a half-mask, often highly decorated with gold, silver, crystals and feathers. It is held up to the face by a baton or tied with ribbon as with most other Venetian masks. The columbine was popularised by an early actress in the Commedia dell'arte of the same name. It is said it was designed for her because she did not wish to have her beautiful face covered completely.[edit] Medico della Peste (The Plague Doctor)
Today, the masks are often more decorative. The doctors who followed De Lorme's example wore the usual black hat and long black cloak as well as the mask, white gloves and a stick (to move patients without having to come into physical contact). They hoped these precautions would prevent them contracting the disease. Those who wear the plague doctor mask often also wear the associated clothing of the plague doctor. The popularity of the Medico della Peste among Carnival celebrants can be seen as a memento mori.
[edit] Moretta
The Moretta (or Servetta Muta) was a strapless oval mask with wide eyeholes, worn by patrician women. The mask was held in place by the wearer biting on a button or bit and was finished off with a veil. Servetta Muta translates as "mute maid servant". This mask has not been widely worn since 1760.[edit] Volto (Larva)
The larva, also called the volto mask, is mainly white and typically Venetian. It is worn with a tricorn and cloak. It is thought the word "larva" comes from the Latin, meaning "mask" or "ghost". Like the bauta, the shape of the mask allowed the wearer to breathe, drink and speak easily without having to remove the mask. These masks were made of fine wax cloth, and so were light and comfortable to wear, making them ideal for a night of socializing and dancing.[edit] Mask-makers
The mascherari (or mask-makers) had their own statute dated 10 April 1436. They belonged to the fringe of painters and were helped in their task by sign-painters who drew faces onto plaster in a range of different shapes and paying extreme attention to detail.[edit] In popular culture
- Venetian masks feature prominently in the film Eyes Wide Shut. In the film, the main character (played by Tom Cruise) infiltrates a masked ball where high-ranking individuals engage in secret sex-rituals. Stores that supplied the masks include both Ca' Macana[13] and Il Canovaccio[14] in Venice. The latter displays the original mask worn in the film by Tom Cruise on their website.
- Carnevale is depicted in the 2009 video game Assassin's Creed II. The main character, Ezio Auditore, is assisted by the artist Leonardo da Vinci in hunting down and assassinating the corrupt Doge of Venice during Carnevale; a golden mask, which Ezio must obtain to enter a private party held by the Doge, plays a significant role in this part of the game.
[edit] References
- ^ Tieuli, Michel. "A Short History of Venetian Carnival Masks". http://www.venetianmasksshop.com/history.htm. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
- ^ Carnival History
- ^ [1]
- ^ Venice Attractions, Carnival
- ^ [2]
- ^ Nalesso, Roberta. ""The Maks of Venice". Meeting Venice.it.
- ^ a b Johnson, James H. (2011). Venice incognito: masks in the serene republic. p. 54. http://books.google.com/books?id=MGupdf1di2AC&pg=PA54&dq=Venice+1268+mask&hl=en&sa=X&ei=kbQsT639DsOU0QG2sO3LCg&ved=0CFgQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=Venice%201268%20mask&f=false.
- ^ a b Janet Sethre, The souls of Venice, 2003. Page 132.
- ^ Ackroyd, Peter. Venice: Pure City. http://books.google.com/books?id=FTpndetFRT4C&pg=PT360&dq=Venice+1268+mask&hl=en&sa=X&ei=kbQsT639DsOU0QG2sO3LCg&ved=0CEcQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Venice%201268%20mask&f=false.
- ^ Ignatio Toscani: Die venezianische Gesellschaftsmaske. Ein Versuch zur Deutung ihrer Ausformung, ihrer Entstehungsgründe und ihrer Funktion. Diss. Saarbrücken 1970.
- ^ Wiele, Johannes, "Licence to Mask: The Venetian Bauta Mask as a Historical Anonymization Device"
- ^ Christine M. Boeckl, Images of plague and pestilence: iconography and iconology (Truman State University Press, 2000), p. 27.
- ^ See Pauline Frommer's Italy by Keith Bain, Reid Bramblett, Pippa de Bruyn, William Fink, Barbie Latza Nadeau p. 333
- ^ Frommer's Northern Italy: Including Venice, Milan & the Lakes by John Moretti p. 168
http://www.venetianartiquity.com/
[edit] External links
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