Venice is known for its canals, masquerade and carnival masks. The Venice Carnival wouldn't be what is without masquerade masks; they are an important part of the celebrations. The carnivals origins are said to return to the 12th centaury, but masking wasn't discussed in association with the revelry until the thirteenth centaury. The carnival reached its height in the eighteenth centaury, were it had become a holiday maker attraction, bringing visitors to the town of canals from all over Europe. In 1797 the Venetian Republic fell to Napoleon Bonaparte, at which time the convention of the carnival ceased. It was revived again in the nineteen seventies and its revival has once more opened the doors of Venice to the travellers of the world.
Masks weren't only worn during carnival, which often lasted a month, but also for rites; including betrothals and unions, the meeting of foreign dignitaries as well as for public festivals. During the eighteenth centaury the wearing of a mask had become part of normal Venetian Society. Its voters were wearing masks for up to half a year of the year, though highly controlled, with laws ordaining when a mask could and couldn't be worn. Masks were not permitted to be worn during certain spiritual feast days, during Lent or for the ten days leading up to and including Christmas.
Masking occurred round the theatre seasons which started in October and finished just before Lent for the autumn-winter season. The high season ran for only seventeen days during the festival of Ascension, which usually happened in May. The theatre has a long and rich history of masking in with the Italian Comedy - The Commedia Dell ' Arte. Where the likes of Harlequin, Brighelle, and Arlecchino were seen stomping the stage, together with the bumbling Zanni.
The voters of Venice were great fans of the theatre and opera and they attended both in mask. The most typical form of masking dress was a Tabro with a bauta mask. The tabro is a hooded black cape that drapes around the face. Over this was placed the Bauta mask, that has a robust manly look to it and covers the face in such away to cover all facial features, but also permits one to each and drink with it on. This was sometimes crowned with a black hat. This type of dress was employed by both men and some women. The girls used this style as it camouflaged one in such a way that you where fully incognito, when wearing pants.
Masks where not only worn for pleasure looking for, but where employed in business transactions and at formal occasions, were it was thought to be dignified and shielded ones respect. Masks where accepted as a standard part of Venetian dress during the season and were reasonable to all. Masking was so commonplace in the eighteenth centaury that Venice could have been observed as the city of masks.
Masks weren't only worn during carnival, which often lasted a month, but also for rites; including betrothals and unions, the meeting of foreign dignitaries as well as for public festivals. During the eighteenth centaury the wearing of a mask had become part of normal Venetian Society. Its voters were wearing masks for up to half a year of the year, though highly controlled, with laws ordaining when a mask could and couldn't be worn. Masks were not permitted to be worn during certain spiritual feast days, during Lent or for the ten days leading up to and including Christmas.
Masking occurred round the theatre seasons which started in October and finished just before Lent for the autumn-winter season. The high season ran for only seventeen days during the festival of Ascension, which usually happened in May. The theatre has a long and rich history of masking in with the Italian Comedy - The Commedia Dell ' Arte. Where the likes of Harlequin, Brighelle, and Arlecchino were seen stomping the stage, together with the bumbling Zanni.
The voters of Venice were great fans of the theatre and opera and they attended both in mask. The most typical form of masking dress was a Tabro with a bauta mask. The tabro is a hooded black cape that drapes around the face. Over this was placed the Bauta mask, that has a robust manly look to it and covers the face in such away to cover all facial features, but also permits one to each and drink with it on. This was sometimes crowned with a black hat. This type of dress was employed by both men and some women. The girls used this style as it camouflaged one in such a way that you where fully incognito, when wearing pants.
Masks where not only worn for pleasure looking for, but where employed in business transactions and at formal occasions, were it was thought to be dignified and shielded ones respect. Masks where accepted as a standard part of Venetian dress during the season and were reasonable to all. Masking was so commonplace in the eighteenth centaury that Venice could have been observed as the city of masks.
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2012 Melanie Robson. mymasquerademasks.com You may use this piece of writing unreservedly on condition that you include this copyright line and keep all URL's intact and that folk who subsequently use this document follow the same conditions. Thank you for accepting these conditions. Melanie Robson is a contract writer, analyst and director of Writers Cramp Productions, masquerade masks and masquerade ball masks are just some of the many subjects Melanie has investigated and written about.
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