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The Masks We Wear . . .
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Venice - The first mention of carnevale in a Venetian document goes back to 1094 A.D., so the Venetians have certainly had some time to turn masks and costumes into an art form.
Carnival in most places is mainly celebrated on a few days, or even the whole week leading up to Ash Wednesday. The 13th-16th century Venetians however seemed to like the idea so much that they decided to dress up and wear masks as of the first possible day, 26th of December according to the liturgical calendar. That still wasn't enough however, so for quite some time the festivities even began in October.
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Drawing from the various characters of the Commedia dell'Arte such as the Lover, the Clown, the Captain, the Doctor, Columbine, Scaramouche, etc., Venetians annually re-interpret the costumes and masks in the most creative and ornate ways. (What with the quantities of precious fabrics, silks and brocades used in each costume, read . . expensive!)
Perhaps the need for anonimity, both of identity and social status, arose in order to occasionally push or even step outside the very strict bounds of the politically imposed acceptable behaviour in renaissance Venice . . the reasons might be lost in time but one look at the costumes and masks and it is obvious that the gaiety and desire to celebrate have remained undiluted to this day.
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-photos 1 and 2 courtesy of Patricia Glee Smith (see bio), accomplished artist and very involved archaeology afficionado based in Otricoli, Umbria. Click here to view her artwork.
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