When we were planning this trip, Faye noticed there was a free presentation about masks being given at one of the famous mask maker shops in Venice, Ca' Macana. Given that masks are such an essential part of Carnival, we all signed up and attended it on Tuesday morning. It did not disappoint. The following information comes from the information Mirka told us, plus more which was found on the shop's website and the Internet.
History
records that the first Carnival was in around 1094. During the 13th century, Carnival
was banned and really only re-emerged as a celebration as we know it today in
1970s. Masks, however, remained popular
throughout that time. In the 18th
century, they became particularly as they provided people with anonymity when
they were out; for example, they were required to be worn in the casinos. Further, the masks created equality – between
the nobles and the commoners. During
that time, the masks were worn for six months of the year between October and
May. When Napoleon took over Venice,
masks were forbidden. With the
celebrations of Carnival, they became popular again.
Mirka, the
woman who gave the presentation, told us initially there were 3 types of tradition
Venetian masks: La Bauta, La Moretta, a
black velvet mask, and Il Dottore della
Peste, associated with the plague. The picture below shows all three types.
Because
the word for mask, la maschera, is feminine, people wearing a mask are greeted
with La Signora Maschera, regardless if they are a woman or a man.
La Bauta:
La Bauta is considered to be the traditional
Venetian mask. It is mostly used to cover your features and made in a way that
it is still possible to eat and drink without having to take it off. The Bauta is always white and it is not only
a Carnival mask, in the sense that, in those times, it could also be used all year
long to protect one's identity. It consists not only of the mask covering the
face but also finely woven lace (the Zendal), and a black hat with three tips (tricorno) holding
it all in place.
La Moretta
La Moretta, a plain black velvet mask worn
by women. The Moretta was held close to
the face without the use of laces by biting a button on the mask between the
teeth. A lady who wanted to wear the
Moretta, therefore, remained completely silent. Hence, the other name for this mask, La Muta.
The mask completely covered the face in order
to appear more attractive ('visible').
That may seem like a contradiction but it was not so according to the
special logic of Venetian women. These
women were rather uninhibited in showing their bodies, as evidenced by the mode
of fashion called “décolleté alla veneziana”, famous throughout Europe. It featured a very generous, square neckline
while the breast area was veiled in a light fabric, which covered the chest
precariously. It was also common to make up the nipples with carmine red so as
to make them more 'visible' behind the transparent fabric. If what was on display was meant to attract
attention, what was hidden behind the Moretta was regarded as the true treasure
to be discovered: their inner world,
their intentions and feelings. It should
be understood that, with this mask, women did not only express an innocent
desire to be seen but, much more mischievously, to be powerfully seductive.
They were openly playing the game of seduction across Venice. Covering
her face with this mask of seduction and staying silent at the same
time, a lady's intentions were completely indecipherable. And so it was the woman herself who decided
whether she remained anonymous and silent or whether she decided to respond to
the attentions, if not the advances, of some suitor. By removing the mask, the lady
offered not only the longed-for sight of her face but also the sound of her
voice, considered a faithful mirror of the soul. Only the truly fortunate had the privilege to
admire that face and to hear her voice but it would have taken a brave man to
seduce a woman without knowing what he was getting - as well as bold, since he
would have had to convince her to reveal her secret.
Il Dottore della Peste
Il Dottore della Peste, the mask with the
long nose has its origins with the plague and is not specific to Venice as it
was worn by doctors in the 15th, 16th and 17th
centuries all over Europe. Herbs, spices and straw were stuffed up the nose of the mask with the
idea that this prevented the disease being contracted and provided protection
from the putrid smells.
The
presentation continued with a demonstration of how the traditional masks are
made using layers of papier mache shaped by a mold. Once the mold is dry, it is painted white and
then decorated or repainted.
Once the mask is taken from the mold and it is dry, it is painted white and then repainted and/or decorated.
Clearly, the masks have evolved to the amazing designs we see today and there are a myriad of styles in addition to the three basics that started the mask tradition.
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