Venezia header: Piazza San Marco - Riva degli Schiavoni

Maschera da Povereto

(Poor guy begging mask)

The person in rags in this image looks young for sure, and he didn't have to waste much money to find a disguise to have fun during Carnival.

With a poor guy's cane, compared to what nobles were using at the time. Maybe it was also a way of begging for some pocket money during carnival? Just a thought.

In another reproduction of the same image, there is some text added, which sort of explains why and how he became poor, that goes like this:

"Son belle dòne amante poveretto
C'vi chiedo d'Amor qualche marchetto."

"I am poor because of beautiful women
And so I ask for my Love, some pocket change."

Etching by Francesco Bertelli: "Maschera da Povereto" - 1642
Francesco Bertelli: "Maschera da Povereto"
Il Carnevale Italiano Mascherato - etching (1642)

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