What is the significance of masks in venice

It was the most sumptuous and extravagant carnival in the world, but the incredible thing is that it made up only a part of the period in which mask wearing was permitted.

The first law regulating the use of masks dates back to the 13 century, but nobody knows when the Venetians actually started wearing them as a part of every day life. What we do know, however, is that this all ended with the fall of the Venetian Republic, at the end of the 18th century. Before that, the law allowed for masks to be worn for most of the year. In the 18th century for example , from the 5th October to the 10th June - 8 months - apart from 10 days during Advent and the 40 days of Lent.

This does seem excessive at first, but can be explained. Venice was an aristocratic republic with it's unique style of democracy effective only within the upper classes, while the ordinary people had no say in government. Despite this, the aristocracy was always loved and admired by the people. Therefore, with the wealth, power and consensus they enjoyed, the aristocracy could impose its own lifestyle as a model for the whole of Venetian society.

However, the Venetian nobles were not fat, idle feudal land lords and they certainly did not live off the backs of the rest of the people. They were merchants and adventurers, who risked their riches and sometimes their own lives on the ships which worked the Eastern trade routes. They had to contend with pirates, storms, attacks by enemy warships and the people and customs from strange lands. Fun post — and gorgeous carnival mask pics! How special to visit Venice during its Carnival!

Great photos! When we visited Venice, we got to go to one of the few shops that still makes masks by hand — fascinating! Awesome Laura! Great photos too! Great pictures and stories about the masks. I learned a lot about them. Your email address will not be published. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Costumes and masks are incredibly elaborate these days. Costumes and masks can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars.

The Batua is always white. Moderna Moretta Venice Carnival masks simply tie on with a ribbon. The Volta Venice Carnival masks are ghost-like and completely cover the face.

A stunning Columbina Venice Carnival mask. The Plague Doctor mask has a beak like a bird. Share Tweet Buffer Pin Flipboard. La Ruffiana Old Woman is usually a mother or gossipy townswoman who intrudes into the lives of the Lovers.

Scaramuccia French: Scaramouche a roguish adventurer and swordsman who replaced Il Capitano in later troupes. B y the eighteenth centaury the wearing of masks by Venetians continued for six months of the year as the original religious association and significance with carnevale diminished.

The Austrians took control of the city on January 18, and it fell into a decline which also effectively brought carnival celebrations to a halt for many years. The Mascherade www. Venetian mask Venetian masks are a centuries-old tradition of Venice , Italy. The masks are typically worn during the Carnival Carnival of Venice , but have been used on many other occasions in the past, usually as a device for hiding the wearer's identity and social status.

The mask would permit the wearer to act more freely in cases where he or she wanted to interact with other members of the society outside the bounds of identity and everyday convention. It was useful for a variety of purposes, some of them illicit or criminal, others just personal, such as romantic encounters.

History Near the end of the Republic, the wearing of masks in daily life was severely restricted. It was not allowed to wear weapons along with the mask, and police had the right to enforce Columbina The Columbina also known as Columbine and Columbino is a half mask often highly decorated with gold, silver, crystals and feathers.

Moretta Popular in Venice as it brought out the beauty of feminine features such as the female head, body and mind. Volto Larva The larva, also called the volto mask, is mainly white, and typically Venetian. It takes several layers — each pressed and adjusted by hand — to create a mask. Once dry, the mask is removed and decorated accordingly. The plaster mould can be used many times but if the mask maker wants to create another plaster mould, he needs to sculpt a new clay mould from scratch.

Often mask makers have over fifty different styles of masks. Each style requires the execution of the above process. The masks made to be worn are anatomically correct. This way, they fit well and the wearer quickly gets used to the sensation of having a mask on their face. If you are buying a Venetian mask to wear for a special occasion, spend a bit of time finding the one that would look truly great on you.

See how the different models emphasise your face and how by concealing your features they add mystery. Ask the mask maker for advice and for their permission before you touch and try the masks on.

Once you buy your Venetian mask, wear it for an hour or so before your event. You will notice that you may need to hold your head a bit differently than usual.

Your line of vision may also change. You may want to see if you need to apply particular make-up around your eyes to make them more expressive when glimpsed through the eye holes of the mask. Wearing a Venetian mask is fun! To truly experience the history and charm of the Venetian masks, consider attending a Create and Decorate Your Own Mask workshop when you are in Venice.

You can choose a mask-making class or a mask-decorating class. Or you can combine them in one workshop. An experienced mask maker will guide you throughout the class revealing to you the secrets of Venetian masks. In the mask-making class you will create a mask from scratch using moulds and paper-mache.

In the mask-decorating class you will choose an already made mask from dozens of different styles and then paint it and embellish it. In both cases, you get to take the finished mask home with you as a wonderful souvenir of your time in Venice. This type of workshops are organised by all of the best-known artisan mask makers in Venice. It was a lovely experience, especially after the end of the incredibly strict lockdown we had just been trough in Italy.

First, we were shown the different styles of masks available to decorate. There were over fifty different designs — full face, half face, animal-shaped, even moon- and sun-shaped. Then the mask maker explained how to achieve professional results — from mixing the paints to adding swirls and adornments.

We could decorate the mask exactly as we wanted. It was wonderful to spend an hour in the studio surrounded by moulds, masks, paints and feathers. To this day, it is a lovely memory of Venice and our life in Italy. Surrounded by endless shopping opportunities in our modern world, we tend to baulk a bit at the prices of artisan goods. A steady stream of cheaply manufactured products has really spoilt us and we tend to first check the price rather than consider the actual value of things.

At a first glance, the prices of handmade Venetian masks may come across as just a bit too much. You may even want to bargain just a touch. The thing is that an artisan-made item like a Venetian mask has a lot of work, research, and creativity invested in it. When mask-wearing was outlawed after Napoleon Bonaparte and Habsburg Austria dissolved the Republic of Venice in , the art and craft of mask-making fell into oblivion.

Craftsmen and enthusiasts took it upon themselves to research and revive techniques that had been forgotten for two centuries. Since then, the range of masks made and sold in Venice has exponentially grown showing the never-ending artistry of the craftsmen and the adaptability of the medium of the mask. Techniques from painting, restoration, theatrical stage set design, costume making and even carpet making have been studied and employed. No machines and no chemicals are used to speed up the production of masks.

Only a few simple, hand-held tools are employed here and there. Several of the mask-making tasks are performed entirely by hand. Rents for retail and studio spaces in Venice tend to be very high. Insurance premiums climb year after year due to the unique location of the city and the threat of destructive levels of acqua alta. As there are no cars and buses in Venice, everything that needs to be delivered or dispatched arrives and leaves on boats. It then needs to be carried from the edge of the canal to the workshop and vice-versa.

It is not an easy life nor an easy way to work. Yet, the artisan mask-making workshops in Venice make an effort every day to continue creating beauty and to keep the traditions of Venetian masks alive. Artisan-made Venetian masks are sturdy. They are constructed with quality materials and a lot of attention to detail.