Table of Contents
How are commedia masks made?
Mask construction The process of working with leather to build Commedia Masks is relatively extensive. To begin, leather is first soaked for a 48 hours minimum. The leather is then draped over a base molded to the shape of a face. Once it is placed the leather is stretched by the artist’s hands or a smooth wooden tool.
What masks are worn in commedia dell arte?
In the early days of Commedia dell’Arte, the Zanni mask used in the theatre was a full face mask with a long nose. It developed from here into a half mask covering the upper half of the face only with an extended, long nose. The longer the nose on the mask, then the more stupid was the character.
What is the difference between Greek masks and the commedia dell’arte masks?
The masks of the Greek Comedy represent “characters, not stereotypes” (Prosperi 1982). The masks of Commedia, on the other hand, are monochromatic and are made of leather, which makes them incredibly light. Commedia masks also do not have eyes, they have holes through which the actors’ eyes can be seen.
What is a Moretta mask?
The Moretta was a small mask covered with black velvet (hence the name ‘Moretta’ because, in Venetian dialect, ‘moro’ means dark, black) of French origin and reserved exclusively for women. The face was therefore the true treasure of a woman and regarded as a mirror of her inner world, her feelings and intentions.
What is the Colombina mask?
The Colombina is a half face mask with heavy decoration. A personal favorite, this multi colored pretty mask conceals only your eyes, cheeks and rarely your nose. In historical perspective the mask takes its name from a maidservant; who was basically the female counterpart of the Bauta.
Which commedia dell’arte characters did not wear masks?
Innamorati usually wore no mask, soubrettes/servettas usually wore no mask, and some zanni like Mezzetin, Scaramouch and Pedrolino have a longer documented tradition for going unmasked than they do for covering their faces.
Is commedia dell’arte still used today?
Conclusion. While much of the purest form of Commedia has been lost to the history books, the majority of its influence today is still widely felt in all forms of theatre today. Fortunately with companies like Odyssey Theatre, much of the art is being recaptured and brought back to its former glory.
What are stock characters in commedia dell arte?
Commedia dell’arte has four stock character groups: Zanni: servants, clowns; characters such as Arlecchino (also known as Harlequin), Brighella, Scapino, Pulcinella and Pedrolino. Vecchi: wealthy old men, masters; characters such as Pantalone and il Dottore.
What are the 3 types of commedia characters?
Commedia characters are fixed types who fall into one of three categories: The Servants (eg: Arlecchino or Columbina) The Masters (eg: Pantalone) The Lovers (eg: Isabella and Flavio )Jun 15, 2015.
What is a half mask?
Respirators that cover the nose and mouth are called half-mask respirators. Those that cover the face, including the eyes, are called full-face respirators. Both types use any combination of prefilters, filters, and cartridges.
What is the character of Il Capitano is based on?
He is usually a Spaniard, given the fact that for most of the late Renaissance to well into 17th century, parts of Italy were under Spanish domination. He was most likely inspired by the boisterous Iberic caudillos who told tall tales of their exploits either in the conquest of the Americas or in the wars with Germany.
What do the two masks represent in drama?
When used together, the two drama masks are a symbol for the theater. The laughing mask symbolizes comedy, while the crying mask represents tragedy. Modern audiences sometimes ascribe additional meanings: the range of human emotion, for example, or the extremes of the human experience.
Which is the stock character who speaks in gibberish?
Even when a local company performed, much of the dialogue would not have been understood. Regardless of region, the oft-used character il Capitano would have spoken in Spanish, il Dottore in Bolognese, and l’Arlecchino in utter gibberish.
What does Il Capitano look like?
Il Capitano is depicted with two different masks. One looks rather stern and menacing, with a long phallic nose and large holes for the eyes. The overly large nose represents manliness, to emphasise his virility and machismo.
What is a Volto mask?
The “volto” or “larva” mask was originally always a white mask, always worn with a three cornered hat and in fact, attached to the hat. These masks are worn to great effect with elaborate costumes during the Venetian Carnival (Carnevale) and can also be worn as a masquerade mask to a masked ball or masked event.
What are Venetian masks called?
The volto (Italian for face) or larva (meaning ghost in Latin) is the iconic modern Venetian mask: it is often made of stark white porcelain or thick plastic, though also frequently gilded and decorated, and is commonly worn with a tricorn and cloak.
Why did the Venetians wear masks?
Venetian masks were traditionally worn to protect the identity of the wearer and were eventually worn during the Venetian Carnival. The masks are divided into two categories: Commedia dell’ Arte masks and Carnival masks.
What was the Colombina mask made of?
The mask was made with the materials that were available, like paper and isinglass (papier-mache) or rag cloths. Today the tradition is taken up by local artisans like us who, having created production techniques, always by hand, produce the Colombina still in papier-mache recreating the original product.
What do masquerade masks symbolize?
Masquerade masks had many uses including hiding one’s identity, and using different colour to express one’s freedom of speech and voice one’s emotions and opinions without judgement. There were two types of base masquerade masks; black masks and white masks.
When was the Colombina mask made?
Date: 900–400 B.C.
