Commedia dell'Arte Characters

     I )    II )    III )    IV ) 

The Carnevale di Venezia is said to have originated from a victory of 'La Serenissima', as Venice was then known, over Ulrico, Patriarch of Aquileia in 1162. To celebrate this victory, dances and reunions took place at the San Marco Piazza. In the beginning, the celebrations started the day after Christmas, and continued until Lent. The magicians, charlatans, performers, the music of Vivaldi, the masks, the beautiful and mysterious men and women are what symbolize the Carnival. From this evolved the Commedia dell'Arte.

Commedia dell'Arte, meaning "artistic comedy", was a theatrical, often humorous and bawdy presentation by actors who travelled throughout 16th century Italy. The characters were drawn from all over the country, speaking several dialects, and so the focus was on physical representations rather than the spoken word. Hailed as the precursor of the pantomime and the harlequinade, the Commedia dell'Arte survived because of its enormous influence on the written word. In a pre-established setting, the actors unique talents were displayed with their art of improvisation in their responses to each other, or at audience reactions. They often made use of the lazzi (special routines inserted at appropriate stages of the play to heighten comedy). The caricatures displayed above (in bas relief) represent four of the more popular Commedia dell'Arte characters:

I - Colombina: The beloved of Arlecchino, witty and sarcastic, and fond of intrigue, she has been represented in various forms - in her earlier reincarnations (known among other things as Franceschina, Smeraldina, etc), she was embodied in a bawdier and sexier persona.

Here is a portrait that I started out with - used all the usual suspects, including smalti (skin tones) for the face and gold for the slim mask covering the eyes. The new material comprising the hair is Italian millefiore. A string of pearls encircles the bust.

Continued with smalti (gold, black and two very close shades of olive green) and got her clothes done - added a few pearls.------> the pictures are rather bad, as they've been taken in artificial light (and even with a tripod, I can't hold the camera steady!!!!!).

<--- Here's another work-in-progress picture (much better picture this time, taken in normal light, with truer colors). Edged the burlwood frame with marble (verde alpi) and oro granulato (granulated gold), and am creating a sort of Venetian backdrop - architecturally. Used  transparent smalti to achieve a stained-glass window effect. Regular smalti is being used for the background. Used oro rosso (red gold) and oro naturale (natural gold)  for the rest of the background, and to the right  is the final picture --->

II - Pulcinella: A smallish actor with a crooked and bent nose, he was a cruel bachelor who was enamored of young, pretty girls. 

This is the next actor that I started working on - am attempting to use more "cool" colors in this mosaic - blues, silver (white gold) and cool and warm greens. Once again, the frame is edged in a beautiful blue marble (azul bahia) and oro granulato (granulated/bumpy gold). Am also using one of my favorite colors - white gold under cobalt glass - metallic cobalt smalti. To the left is the construction of the gondola on which Pulcinella is perched. To the right, I've begun working on the figure itself. Smalti (regular and gold) and millefiore are the materials used. What is left is the mask on the figure, and the background, which will be composed of stylized buildings simulating those lining the Grand Canal. For that, I intend using warm, vibrant colors including red and yellow!

<--- Here's another picture of the incomplete mosaic; the mask has been completed using warm tones of the yellow family, and I've also begun working on the surround. Oro bianco (white gold), millefiore, and vivid colored smalti form the buildings in the background. To the right is the completed mosaic ---> 

III - Il Capitano: A caricature of a professional soldier, given to much bravado and swagger, but the most cowardly of them all.

<--- Started this one next - used marble (onice aranca) and oro granulato to frame the border - also used a combination of 2 marble types to form the checkered top. The rest is regular smalti, transparent smalti, millefiore, a glass cabochon (given to me by Michele Petno of smalti.com) and oro rosso (red gold). To the left is what is top portion of the mosaic; to the right is a close-up of Il Capitano's face (mask), composed of various shades of green smalti.

Continued with the background (Il Capitano descending a staircase) - used large amounts of gold smalti besides the regular variety. Also used a couple of faceted amber medallions in the construction of the building surround. To the left is a work-in-progress picture and to the right is the completed piece.

IV - Arlecchino: An amorous acrobat, both childlike and humorous, and often given to wit, this was undoubtedly the most popular of the characters.

<--- This is the final mosaic of the series, and also the most tedious, though enjoyable piece. Framed the border again with marble (onice pakistan) - not seen in the pictures so far, and oro granulato (granulated gold). The mask is composed of regular smalti and white gold under cobalt glass (I love this tile!!). Modified his hat from the original drawing to introduce some whimsy into the composition. The ends of the tri-cornered hat are a cluster of millefiore surrounded by white smalti. The jacket on the body and the hat are created in a "harlequin" pattern. The collar is composed of beads that resemble millefiore and had the colors being used on the body, so I decided to introduce them here. The tips of the cape also end up in a single millefiori. To the right is the completed figure.

Started working on the background.....am using white gold smalti (oro bianco) to flesh out the church. Also used another type of millefiore for the windows. The crucifixes atop the church are also composed of yellow smalti and a solitary millifiori. To the right is a later picture with a little more of the surround filled in. The glass baubles are meant to depict pebbles on either side of the walkway (these are leftovers from  the time I thought I'd use them for Flora!).

This is the completed mosaic.

This completes the Carnevale series!