Costumes and Masks

fig. 1. Fava, Antonio. "Francatrippa" Northwestern University Libraries,.www.dc.library.northwestern.edu/collections/c373ecd2-2c45-45f2-9f9e-52dc244870bd. Accessed 9/22/21

Masks And Their Meanings:

helps to transform one's internalization of the character
immediately helps the actor to transform into the character
usually is a physical representation of the character rather than an internal representation

fig. 2 "Colombina". Candida Martinelli's Italophile Site. Accessed 9/22/2021

Costumes And Their Meanings:

each stock character has a distinct costume/ mask and was unique to the character
the details of the costumes and masks can reveal a lot of the characters' true intentions
the costumes were often quite colorful
only certain characters wore masks ( ex.young lovers did not wear masks)

Capitano: usually wears some sort of military uniform, with a sword, often wore a red mask with a long nose, long and arched eyebrows, and sometimes had a long mustache
Dottore: black robes, the mask usually only covers a small portion of the face, the forehead has wrinkles and the nose is large and bulbous, sometimes a mustache of sorts is attached to the mask
Pantalone: red jacket, breeches (a type of baggy pants), a black cassock(clerical robe), wears a mask with a large often crooked nose, wrinkles, and covers only above the mouth
The Servants(Zannis): diamond-patterned costume made to resemble patchwork, usually very colorful

Arlecchino: usually in a matching or similar costume to his counterpart (usually the female Zanni), typically wears a mask with a large round nose, arched eyebrows, rounded/hollow cheeks, and covers the face above the mouth

Columbina: usually in a matching or similar costume to Arlecchino but in dress form, does not wear a mask,

The Young Lovers(Amoroso/Immorati): would be dressed very lavishly, they didn't wear masks, their costumes were more reserved compared to the outlandishness of the others

fig. 3 "German Porcelain of the Eighteenth Century": The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, v. 47, no. 4 (Spring, 1990)

Works Cited:

Fava, Antonio. The Comic Mask, Northwestern University Press, 2007. Accessed on 9/23/21

Meagher, Jennifer. “Commedia dell’arte.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/comm/hd_comm.htm (July 2007). Accessed 9/23/21

you should make the font smaller. Do you need more masks? - Sydney

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