The figures of Harlequin and Colombine were born from the Commedia dell’Arte in Italy. Still today they play out their love and treachery.
Italy in the 16th century saw the rise of the Commedia dell’Arte. The Theatre of Masks was also very popular. The Commedia dell’Arte is a theatrical art form in which the comic actors are the most important. From the standard characters, the witty Brighella and the burlesque Arlecchino (harlequin) are best-known. Other personages are Pantalone (the funny elderly gent from Venice), Dottore (the boring twaddler from Bologna) and Capitano (the swaggering military man). These characters, equally popular with the aristocracy and the peasants were recognised across Europe and formed the staple figures in many dramas and comedies enacted on the fairground.
Two figures in a Commedia del’Arte, a typical Italian phenomenon. Picture from the 17th century.
In the Commedia dell’Arte professional comedians performed scenes from daily life. Smart servants played tricks on their old silly masters. The humble took revenge on the powerful. The actors made a fool of authorities. The plays were hugely successful because they were so recognizable.
A brown-coloured picture depicting mummery.
Scene from a Commedia del’Arte.