My Mask

For Centuries many cultures have employed masks. From primitive man to through tot he current age. Masks have served as a ritual and ceremonial tool or prop that has often been viewed as having mystical powers. For theatrical purposes the masks cause the players to transcend their plain of existence and take the audience on a fanciful journey. Used also to disguise the wearer for matter both playful and subversive. The mask is an enduring link to our past.

For my purposes of historical recreation of 16th century dress, these images pertaining to that time frame only.

All of these masks are a far cry from the modern and fanciful masks of the Venetian Carnival today. They are all very plain and simple. I have included small face veils as these served the same purpose, to obscure the face.

Where there has been need for a translation I have done my best but I'm not well versed in languages as yet. Next year hopefully this will change.


Lady Dressed in the French Style, Album Amicorum of a German Soldier 1595 Los Angels County Museum of Art	Lady in a Black Mask and a Gentleman on a Horse, Amicorum of a German Soldier 1595 Los Angels County Museum of Art

Matron of Turin, Cesare Vecellio's Costume Plates 1589	Wealthy Turkish woman in street dress, Cesare Vecellio's Costume Plates 1589. Included because of the influence on Venetains

From a Venetian Fresco showing two players, she has a full face mask, he has a half mask mid to late C16	The Muses, 1508 - 11, Raphael, fresco, Vatican Museum Rome A mask being held in the center of the frame

Allegory of Lust (An Allegory with Venus and Cupid), Bronzino, 1545, The National Gallery, London Two masks seen at the bottom right of the frame	detail entertainment provided for Charles V and Philip during their visit to the Netherlands in 1548

Commedia Dell'Arte, A Venetian Courtesan, probably a man dressed as a courtesan as I am relyably informed that women didn't wear masks for Commedia Dell'Arte, Habitus Variarum Orbis Gentium 1581 Los Angels County Museum of Art	detail entertainment provided for Charles V and Philip during their visit to the Netherlands in 1548

Commedia Dell'Arte, character known as Pantalone, Habitus Variarum Orbis Gentium 1581 Los Angels County Museum of Art	Commedia Dell'Arte, Zanni (a servant type), Habitus Variarum Orbis Gentium 1581 Los Angels County Museum of Art

detail from the memorial painting of Sir Henry Unton showing a banqued with muscians and a masque 1596	detail from the memorial painting of Sir Henry Unton showing a banqued with muscians and a masque 1596

Daughter of Niger from The Masque of Blackness, The King's Arcadia Inigo Jones and the Stuart Court These show that in the context of the time a 'costume' was part of the total disguise for a masque	Penthesilea from The Masque of Queens, The King's Arcadia Inigo Jones and the Stuart Court These show that in the context of the time a 'costume' was part of the total disguise for a masque

Unknown manuscript	"Festa in Maschera", 1595, found on page 603 of "Il Rinascimento a Venezia : e la pittura del Nord ai tempi di Bellini, Durer, Tiziano" Courtesy of Jennifer Thompson

Carnevale Leandro Bassano, oil on canvas 132 x 168 Salamon Gallery Milan, Italy

Costume design for Queen Henrietta Maria as Devine Beauty in the masque pempe restored by Inigo Jones 1632	Pamatnik Oldricha a Jana Zahradeckych ze Zahradek prague, Masked Players at Carnivale. 1589

F Bertelli Magnifico e Cortigiana 1642 Out of my time, frame but still interesting	F Bertelli Viloti 1642 Out of my time, frame but still interesting

All intellectual content, composition, layout, designs and photographs copyright 2007 to Deborah Lane © , 2003 to Deborah Murray © or Mistress Oonagh O'Neill ©. All Original renaissance art works and artifacts are not copyright to Deborah Lane, and are shown for educational use only. If you see something you'd really like to use, please contact me!