The annual carnival in Venice attracts crowds of tourists to this city. Many people want to not only see, but also participate in this spectacle, merge with the crowd and become part of it, as if having been transferred to time many centuries ago. Renaissance costumes help to get lost and become unrecognized, and such an element as a Venetian mask.
History of the origin of the Venetian masks
Carnival is a fascinating phenomenon, it is famous all over the world and is a visiting card of the city in the same way as canals and red-black gondolas. Its indispensable attribute are bright, unlike one on another masks, behind which it is convenient for a few hours to hide their identity and pretend to be someone else, mysterious and unrecognized . Many are interested in plunging into the history of this many-sided and many-sided city on the water.
The history of Venetian masks is rooted in the era of the formation of Venice, as a major economic center of medieval Europe.
- The rich inhabitants of Venice have always been in sight because of the small size of the town. Therefore, the masks were designed to keep their owner's incognito in movement around the city, to hide secret and forbidden love interests.
- With the help of this detail, many thieves and scammers were hiding in a large number of traders in Venice.
- The third reason was the possibility, at least for a short moment, to change the identity, turning from a servant into a rich citizen and vice versa. Tradition to wear such an object as a Venetian mask, richly decorated with fur, ribbons, silk and feathers, precious stones and shining colors during the annual carnival was so loved by the Venetians that for many centuries it is the most recognizable spectacle in Europe.
Venetian masks - types and meanings
Real original items, unlike cheap half-masks, are real masterpieces and they are not cheap. But, acquiring such a detail in Venice and participating in it in the carnival procession, you can completely immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the holiday and as if to move about time. You can identify certain types of Venetian masks, which differ in types or images. Each of them has its own meaning and is made by masters according to strict canons, developed many centuries ago.
The only difference is the decor and decoration, small individual details, characteristic for the work of each specific type. Among them are the following:
- the most popular is Bauta. This image was chosen by both aristocrats and commoners;
- Volta - this Venetian mask, which is an unremarkable image of a man who wants to get lost in the crowd;
- Lady and Colombina - accessories, favorite among women of different ages;
- interesting is the mask of the Jester, wearing which you can adopt and the habits of this image;
- Gatto or Cat is a stylized cat's face;
- Moretta is another feminine detail with an interesting history;
- to the classic images is an ominous accessory called Doctor Plague;
- Butterfly - often represents an openwork half-mask.
Mask of the Venetian Lady
One of the brightest and most luxurious is the carnival mask of a Venetian lady. Already by the name it is clear that she personified the image of a noble Venetian woman. It is characterized by such distinctive features:
- richly decorated with precious stones, pearls, feathers and lace, painted with gold and covered with mother of pearl, the Lady personified luxury and chic;
- often on top of it was a stylization for a high hairstyle, lined with curls or a rim of fluffy ostrich feathers;
- around the eyes, lips or cheeks, the Venetian woman's mask was enriched with precious shining stones, large natural pearls;
- the most expensive details were saturated with oriental incense, which in Europe in the Middle Ages was valued more than gold;
- there are varieties by name: Fantasia, Valerie, Liberta, Regina, Olga and Salome.
Venetian mask Colombina
From comedies del arte came the masks of the Venetian carnival, known under the name of Columbine or the Maid. It is characterized by such features:
- It is a half mask, covering only the upper part of the face;
- The image of Columbine is the image of a cunning, dexterous and attractive maiden girl who helps her mistress in her love affairs, deftly manipulates the Harlequin;
- The half-mask of Columbine is decorated either with contrasting diamonds, symbolizing patches on the costumes of the Harlequin and Columbine, or is decorated with richer, feathers, beads, lace and painting;
- fastened such a Venetian woman's mask on wide strings, but she can have a pen, for which she must be brought to face.
Venetian Volta Mask
One of the most popular are the Venetian carnival masks of Volta or a citizen - this is a simple and common image of carnival. It has such distinctive features:
- repeats the contours of the human face, often performed in white , but variations of other colors are possible;
- it is adorned with a moderate or gold painting and inlay, or minimally prescribed line of eyes and lips;
- Volta was allowed to wear to ordinary citizens on other holidays, and not only during the main carnival;
- has either a handle fixed to the chin, or attached to the strings;
- Volta - the canonical version, it was used to save incognito.
Venetian Moretta Mask
If we consider Venetian masks, the value of one of them corresponds to the translation of its name. Moretta translates as "dark-skinned", among its features can be noted the following:
- It is black and covered either with black velvet or with black satin;
- it is small in size, has no strings and lips;
- this Venetian mask is attached due to a small pin that is taken into the mouth and held by teeth. Hence, and another version of the name - "mute servant";
- it is believed that she was loved by Giacomo Casanova, because he considered silence and the mysterious sign language very tempting;
- Currently, Moretta is one of the rarest because of the inconvenience of its fastening, it is made exclusively to order.
Venetian mask Bauta
One of the male variants in which traditional Venetian masks are represented is Bauta or the Ghost. This is the only image in which you can eat and drink, preserving incognito and without unnecessary inconvenience. Its characteristics include the following:
- unrecognized person was preserved due to the special acoustic features of Baut;
- it is widened from below and slightly pushed forward, the voice, striking against the inner surface, became deaf;
- the classical Bauta was painted black, then it was dyed white, and only recently Bauta was made steel, silver and gold;
- The image of Baut was supplemented by a broad black cloak and a black aristocratic cocked hat;
- Baut was historically considered aristocratic, in her noble townspeople could walk around the city on any day, and commoners had to greet every passerby in such detail.
Venetian Cat Mask
The only one depicting an animal on a carnival is the Venetian cat mask. Since ancient times the Venetians have been very warm to the cats who saved the granaries from mice. "Cat" has such differences:
- closes the upper part of the face, leaving the lips and chin open;
- often in the lower part there is a ruffle of their thin lace;
- completely repeats the muzzle of the cat, it has a cat's nose, cheeks, a cut of eyes and ears;
- it is customary to adorn lace Venetian masks with patterns, gold leaf, sparkling elements, ribbons;
- it is chosen by both men and women. It is fastened on the head, thanks to the strings.
Venetian Mask Doctor Plague
The most sinister image of carnival is a Venetian mask with a long nose. Doctor Plague. Its features include the following:
- personifies something otherworldly, the inevitability of death;
- is a monophonic face with a large bird's beak;
- she was put on by plague doctors during the outbreak of this deadly disease in Italy. The beak was filled with fragrant and antiseptic herbs, drugs with which the doctor breathed, in order to avoid getting infected with this terrible disease;
- the doctors wore long black cloaks with wax impregnation, and in their hands they held a long staff so as not to touch the sick person. To see a plague doctor walking from house to house was considered an ominous sign of illness and an imminent death. Currently, all the attributes of this image have been preserved.
Venetian Mask of the Jester
From the comedy del arte came the beautiful Venetian masks of Columbine and the Jester. The latter were at the courts of the rulers. They were the only ones who could tell the King the whole truth and go unpunished. It is a bright, cheerful, silly image that distinguishes such characteristics:
- is a cleverly smiling grimace, with a long chin and a nose;
- decorated with patterns, gilded elements, on the head - a stylized cap with bells;
- the costume is complemented by a cloak sewn from rhomboid flaps;
- another variation of the Jester is the mask of Matthachino. This is a daring and aggressive option. During the carnival, he was allowed a lot: shout out insults to passers-by, throw them eggs and rotten vegetables. Matachino has one or two horns with bells.
Venetian Butterfly Mask
One of the most popular options in which female Venetian masks are represented is the Butterfly. It is a mini half-mask that covers only the eyes. It is difficult to keep incognito in it, but it gives the image mystery and charm. The part covers the eye line, is made of lace material or covered with a beautiful pattern or lace. It can be tied with ribbons, or it has a long handle on the side, for which it can be held in the hand.
Venetian mask with feathers
Variants Ladies, Colombines, Butterflies are women's Venetian masks with feathers, which occupy a special place in decoration. Historically, ostrich feathers were considered an attribute of the costumes of rich people, they decorated hats and made expensive fans out of them, so not everyone could afford such a luxury at the carnival. By the presence of feathers it was possible to determine the status of the one who hid under it.
Exhibition of Venetian Masks
In different cities of the world, annual exhibitions are held, which present modern Venetian masks. They are attended by many private collectors who can not resist the beauty, luxury and rich history of carnival attributes. At major exhibitions you can see complete collections of images , their historical prototypes and a luxurious modern embodiment. After all, every detail is a small work of art, which you want to try on yourself.