Venezia header: Piazza San Marco - Riva degli Schiavoni

PULISINELLA mask

Very likely this is one of the numerous Pulcinella looks in the history of this Commedia dell'Arte character.

Let's just remember that Pulcinella is the classic, beloved Neapolitan character, almost a symbol of the city itself.

Naples = Vesuvio = Spaghetti = Pulcinella.

Pulcinella was born/created in Naples -in the South of Italy - during the second half of the XVI century.

The character was invented by an actor of the Commedia dell' Arte: Silvio Fiorillo, and this etching by Francesco Bertelli is from mid XVII century.

Here Pulcinella is wearing an uncommon top hard-top "coppolone" hat - like in a Tiepolo painting - and has a white mask, but there are so many versions of his way of dressing that nothing is surprising.

Check out the Pascariello character, for another different Pulcinella look

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

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