Carnival Masks
The “Carnevale” was a celebration in Venice that was associated with pre-Lenten festivals that were practice on Shroud Tuesday and Fat Tuesday (Tieuli). Carnival of Venice was first recorded in 1268 (Magic of Venezia). It was said to have originated from an annual celebration of Doge Vitale Michieli II’s 1 victory over Ulreich II of Treven, the Patriarch of Aquileia in 1162 (Tieuli). Carnival begins on December 26, Shroud Tuesday, and has been known to last for 3 months straight (Magic of Venezia). It was Carnival that introduced the wearing of masks in Venice during the 13th century, and it has been a lasting tradition ever since (Tieuli).
One popular type of mask that was worn during Carnival was the Bauta. Often worn by both men and women, it was shining white, faced shaped mask usually coupled with a black silk cape and a tricorne hat (Tieuli). The Moretta is another type of mask that was only worn by ladies (Tieuli). It was a black velvet oval mask that covered the lady’s entire face and was held in place by a bit in her mouth (Tieuli). Both masks were worn by men and women while they were engaging in illicit activities such as gambling (Tieuli). These activities gradually made Carnival lose its religious significance and instead become a time of wicked indulgences (Tieuli).
For the majority of the citizens, Venice was a very wealthy place (Tieuli). Unfortunately, the wealth was unbalanced, and because of this is became common practice in Venetian culture to hide one’s identity behind a mask (Magic of Venezia). The masks created a feeling of safe among the Venetian people; they were no longer limited due to their social status, because no one knew who they were (Magic of Venezia)! Masks essentially made every equal in status (Magic of Venezia). Venice grew even more decadent as people embraced the mask culture (Magic of Venezia). Sexual promiscuity was accepted and even encouraged, gambling was extremely common, and even homosexuality was embraced (although it was publically condemned) (Magic of Venezia). Even members of the clergy participated in the sinful actions because the masks provided a means of secrecy and safety (Magic of Venezia). Venice was plunged into moral decay, and so the Catholic Church banned the use of masks and the celebration of Carnival (Magic of Venezia).
One popular type of mask that was worn during Carnival was the Bauta. Often worn by both men and women, it was shining white, faced shaped mask usually coupled with a black silk cape and a tricorne hat (Tieuli). The Moretta is another type of mask that was only worn by ladies (Tieuli). It was a black velvet oval mask that covered the lady’s entire face and was held in place by a bit in her mouth (Tieuli). Both masks were worn by men and women while they were engaging in illicit activities such as gambling (Tieuli). These activities gradually made Carnival lose its religious significance and instead become a time of wicked indulgences (Tieuli).
For the majority of the citizens, Venice was a very wealthy place (Tieuli). Unfortunately, the wealth was unbalanced, and because of this is became common practice in Venetian culture to hide one’s identity behind a mask (Magic of Venezia). The masks created a feeling of safe among the Venetian people; they were no longer limited due to their social status, because no one knew who they were (Magic of Venezia)! Masks essentially made every equal in status (Magic of Venezia). Venice grew even more decadent as people embraced the mask culture (Magic of Venezia). Sexual promiscuity was accepted and even encouraged, gambling was extremely common, and even homosexuality was embraced (although it was publically condemned) (Magic of Venezia). Even members of the clergy participated in the sinful actions because the masks provided a means of secrecy and safety (Magic of Venezia). Venice was plunged into moral decay, and so the Catholic Church banned the use of masks and the celebration of Carnival (Magic of Venezia).
Commedia Dell'Arte
Commedia Dell'Arte was an Improvisational Theatre that began in the 16th Century (Tieuli). It was popular until about the 18th century (Tieuli). The performances were improvised around a group of conventional situations (Tieuli). The theatre focused on themes of adultery, jealousy, love, and old age (Tieuli). The masks used in Commedia Dell'Arte are named after the characters who wear them: Arlecchino, Brighella, Captain Scaramouche, Colombina and Pierrot (Tieuli). Often, masks were taken from the Commedia Dell'Arte and worn during the Carnival (Tieuli).