Harlequin
Print
ca. 18th century (published)
ca. 18th century (published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Engraving of Harlequin, ca. 18th century, Harry Beard Collection.
The character of Harlequin is a character of the commedia dell'arte. The original Harlequin may have been performed in a dark mask which changed into a black half-mask. Commedia dell'arte (literally 'artistic comedy') developed in 16th century Italy. A company consisted of about ten actors, each of whom developed a specific type of character and comic business, such as a swaggering Captain, old men like Pantaloon or the Doctor, a simple clown and young lovers. The performance was improvised around these stock characters and a pre-agreed plot. The troups spread into France and came to England in the mid 17th century; stock characters like Harlequin, Columbine, Pantaloon and Clown developed into the English Harlequinade, while Pulcinella, developed into Mr Punch.
The character of Harlequin is a character of the commedia dell'arte. The original Harlequin may have been performed in a dark mask which changed into a black half-mask. Commedia dell'arte (literally 'artistic comedy') developed in 16th century Italy. A company consisted of about ten actors, each of whom developed a specific type of character and comic business, such as a swaggering Captain, old men like Pantaloon or the Doctor, a simple clown and young lovers. The performance was improvised around these stock characters and a pre-agreed plot. The troups spread into France and came to England in the mid 17th century; stock characters like Harlequin, Columbine, Pantaloon and Clown developed into the English Harlequinade, while Pulcinella, developed into Mr Punch.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Harlequin (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Engraving, printed ink on paper |
| Brief description | Engraving of Harlequin, ca. 18th century, Harry Beard Collection |
| Physical description | Engraving of Harlequin. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Harry R. Beard Collection, given by Isobel Beard. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Literary reference | Commedia dell' arte |
| Summary | Engraving of Harlequin, ca. 18th century, Harry Beard Collection. The character of Harlequin is a character of the commedia dell'arte. The original Harlequin may have been performed in a dark mask which changed into a black half-mask. Commedia dell'arte (literally 'artistic comedy') developed in 16th century Italy. A company consisted of about ten actors, each of whom developed a specific type of character and comic business, such as a swaggering Captain, old men like Pantaloon or the Doctor, a simple clown and young lovers. The performance was improvised around these stock characters and a pre-agreed plot. The troups spread into France and came to England in the mid 17th century; stock characters like Harlequin, Columbine, Pantaloon and Clown developed into the English Harlequinade, while Pulcinella, developed into Mr Punch. |
| Other number | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.1597-2012 |
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| Record created | December 6, 2012 |
| Record URL |
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