Which Is Not One of the Three Stock Character Types Commonly Found in Commedia Dell Arte?
Commedia dell'Arte Characters
Here is some background on the Commedia dell'Arte characters that many of the Venetian Masks designs are based on:
1. Zanni
Zanni is probably not the first grapheme that springs to mind when y'all remember of Commedia dell'Arte characters. That is because the Zanni character is seminal to many other characters in the Commedia dell'Arte theater, including Arlechino, Brighella, and Pulcinella. The name 'Zanni' is a diminutive of Venetian name 'Giovanni' (John) and we get our English discussion 'zany' from this, which gives you an idea of the nature of this character! The Zanni character was a buffoon or clown and known in those days as a simpleton or 'stupid incompetent fool'!
This character was drawn from the lower classes of the time, the peasant or migrant worker who worked in Venetian society as a servant, valet or porter. Sometimes also as an odd job person or bell-ringer.
The term Zanni therefore refers to a class of mask although in some cases was a specific character as well. This clown was an of import aspect of Commedia dell'Arte theatre, representing the peasant course of society. Zanni reflected the role of the Bergamo peasants, who at that time were facing a famine in the rural areas they lived in due to cheaper imports from Greece (audio familiar?) after their region was conquered by the Venetian army in the early on 1400'southward. They flooded in to the urban cities such as Venice, offering themselves for whatever piece of work they could discover and eeking out a living in anyhow they could. In their favour, they were famous for their nimbleness and agility on the positive side and on the other side - their crudeness. Overlaid on all of this was their fantastic dialect and manner of speaking - these traits formed the basis of an important character 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 olfactory organ. Information technology developed from here into a half mask roofing the upper half of the face up simply with an extended, long olfactory organ. The longer the nose on the mask, then the more stupid was the character.
The costume of the Zanni character reinforced for the audience the nature of this character. Ordinarily dressed in sacking and hunched over through conveying heavy loads as a porter, with knees in a 'bowed' position and feet splayed autonomously. This was in sharp contrast to the aristocracy characters in the Commedia dell'Arte who always carried themselves with cock actions. Zanni was always highly animated, waving arms and gesticulating with hands when speaking in a fibroid manner with erratic body movements thrown in! Some Zanni characters were known for their acrobatic feats, including hand-stands and flips. Others displayed their roots and were constantly ravenously hungry (coming from a famine in their habitation towns) merely their coarseness also introduced mirth into the theatre with farting, burping and resounding snoring.
2. Pantalone
Pantalone is a well known Commedia dell'Arte character. The original proper name of this character was an old man named "Magnifico". He spoke in obviously, yet musical Venetian dialect. The original name soon gave way to the more well known "Pantalone". There are numerous interpretations nigh the origin of this name. It is said that it derives from San Pantalone, 1 of the Saints venerated in the city of Venice. A Venetian church is even named after San Pantalone.
Another possible origin is the term "piantaleoni", a name used for the merchants who opened their stalls in conquered lands and symbolically "planted" the King of beasts of St Mark to extend the power of the urban center of Venice through trade. The grapheme Pantelone is of class an old merchant, so information technology does give some credence to this theory.
Other theories are that the name pre-dates this era and goes back to the Greek expression meaning "powerful in all things".
Pantalone's character is generally an old merchant, often wealthy and esteemed, at other times completely ruined, notwithstanding always an old homo in every detail, with business organization skills. His mask typically highlighted his physical characteristics including a hooked nose and prominent eyebrows.
Browse through the Italy Mask "Traditional" selection to run across if nosotros currently accept a Pantalone mask in stock.
3. Il Dottore (The Physician)
Il Dottore in Commedia dell'Arte is usually dressed in the traditional style of a medieval doctor, with a huge black accommodate, ofttimes with a ruff and a notary's beret or big doctor's cap. He wears a mask over one-half of his face that highlights his bulbous nose.
Il Dottore is a comic personage originally from "well-fed and learned" Bologna. He is a 'doctor' but in name and is depicted at times as a learned physician and at other times as a notary or lawyer.
Browse through the Italian republic Mask "Traditional" choice to encounter if we currently take an "Il Dottore" mask in stock.
4. Arlecchino (Harlequin)
The Arlecchino mask is one of the nearly pop masks in the Commedia dell'Arte series. It was traditionally worn by the character Arlecchino (Harlequin in English) who was bandage as a bit of a dim-wit, silly, uncomplicated minded person and perpetually hungry, once again, in the Zanni genre.
Arlecchino is ane of the youngest characters of the one-act and the use of this graphic symbol in the Commedia dell'Arte has been traced back to as early as 1593.
Arlecchino'south usual role is that of a faithful valet or servant, simply in this context he is as well the clown, the acrobat providing lots of comic relief! Every bit soon as this character appears on stage there is e'er lots of laughter at his absurd actions and words, alternating between flashes of brilliance and apparently idiocy. You tin't predict which will manifest itself at any fourth dimension! This is overlaid with wit and charm, likewise every bit scheming to meet his ain objectives.
While undertaking errands for his principal or pursuing a pretty lady (or both!) he gets into all manner of strife. He employs every technique he tin can to achieve his objectives, including pretending to exist a soldier or a woman. His absent mindedness is legendary and he tin be looking for the chair he is sitting on or completely sidetracked by a pretty lady, money or food! All the while, his dizzying free energy is causing his supple body to undertake somersaults, handstands, cartwheels and all sorts of acrobatic feats! Understandably, he was loved by audiences.
Arlecchino'southward costume usually comprised a jacket and trousers with colorful and irregular patches, with a white felt hat with a rabbit or play a trick on tail and a belt with a wooden spatula (or 'slap stick'). This was used to stir polenta or sometimes to slap some other person, a packet, luggage, food or other items belonging to someone else!
Arlecchino'southward mask has a puggish nose, sometimes a bump on his forehead and unremarkably with devilish and feline features. He is truly a colorful graphic symbol!
Browse through the Italia Mask "Traditional" selection to encounter if we currently have an "Arlecchino" mask in stock.
five. Pulcinella
The Pulcinella mask in the Commedia dell'Arte theater is reputed to have originated from the south of Italy (Campagnia), a region boasting a wealth of comic traditions.
Pulcinella's physical advent in the theater often resembled that of a cockerel. His mask with a beaked nose is thought to accept given rise to his proper name, either from the Latin 'pullus gallinaceus' or from a dialect corruption of 'pullicino' (young chick).
Regardless, his large nose, squeaky vocalisation, clownish means gave rise to him beingness cast equally a adventurer, lazy bones, tumbler and acrobat. The Pulcinella character appeared in many acts of the Commedia dell'Arte and information technology was this graphic symbol that prompted Giandonmenico Teipolo to pigment him on the walls and ceilings of the Villa Zianigo in Venice.
We usually accept a number of Pulcinella masks in stock. Review our selection of Traditional Venetian Masks at present.
vi. Colombina
Colombina is unremarkably cast as a mischievous maid in the Commedia dell'Arte, a comic but not e'er virtuous figure with a best friend (and sometimes lover) of Arlecchino.
Her costume is usually simple, representing what maids wore in the 1700s. She sometimes wore colorful patches (similar Arlecchino) set off by a small white gage and an apron of the same colour.
Colombina is translated into English as "little Dove" and the masks in this range are without exception purely "Eye Masks", just roofing the eyes and exposing the oral cavity so that the wearer is able to eat and potable freely. This blueprint is said to accept originated because of the grapheme Colombina's vanity and not wanting to obscure likewise much of her beauty with a mask.
These masks course the basis of a large number of variants all based on the Colombina Eye Mask, simply are at present available in feather, leather, jolly, bizarre, metal filigree and macrame / lace.
Considering of their utility to exist worn at masked events, such equally masquerade balls, these masks are the nigh popular Masquerade Mask.
Browse through our drove of 150 Colombina Masks now - in that location will be ane there that is just correct for you.
7. Il Capitano (The Captain)
Il Capitano'south character in Commedia dell'Arte is usually a vainglorious, deceitful and braggart soldier, dressed in a bright and colorful uniform. This was commonly a suit with multi-colored stripes and gilded buttons, a feathered cap and a large sword with several rust marks or even some cobwebs! His part usually involves him boasting of slap-up exploits of war, but he is also the field of study of pranks and jokes from the other characters. He sometimes responds to this by unsheathing his sword, but the just blood that is ever spilt is his own!
8. Brighella
Brighella is bandage as a shrewd retainer in the Commedia dell'Arte in the 'Zanni' genre. One of his specialties for this part are the tricks and pranks that he plays on other characters and is sometimes also an adept musician, singing and playing the guitar. This meddlesome, greedy and astute servant is also a ruffian, gear up to satisfy even the meanest desires of his master. He is commonly totally unscrupulous and ready for any craft.
His costume is that of a servant, but ordinarily with several short green stripes on a white background on both shirt and trousers. He sometimes also wears a cloak and a cap with green stripes.
For some reason, Brighella'southward popularity was partly eclipsed in the Commedia dell'Arte by Arlecchino, who became much more than popular with audiences.
Source: https://www.italymask.co.nz/About+Masks/Commedia+dellArte+Characters.html
0 Response to "Which Is Not One of the Three Stock Character Types Commonly Found in Commedia Dell Arte?"
Post a Comment