Ad99998 04 069a/eng
Masken der Alten
Beschreibungstext eng
Antiquities. XII. Vol. IV. No. 67., MASKS OF THE ANCIENTS., The Masks of the Ancients were chiefly destined for tlieir theatrical representations which were pevformed in day time in the large Amphitheaters that very osten contained twenty th ouf and fpectators. They took their orisein from the feafts of Bacchus in the time of grape gatherirjg, when the revelling vintagers disgaiîeâ themselves, and painting their faces with the lees of red wine, performed ail forts of plays and farces., When the Theater in later times was regulated, the artful masks were invented whose vizors or face-masks represented certain designed features; and (1) the tragick masks for the Tragedy (2) the comical masks for the Comedy and (3) the Bacchuse mask for the satyre and the pastorals were introduced., Tragick masks are represented in Fig. 1. 2. 3. and 8., Comical masks in fig. 7. and 10. and, Bacchus's masks in fig. 4. 5 6. and 9., The masks of the Ancients consisted not only of a Vizor or mafk for the face, like those of our times, but of a whole complète head whofe fore and hind parts opened; they were put on like helmets and gave the players the proper features for the character they performed. These masks had generally large open mouths which like a fpeaking trumpet strengthened the aclor's natural voice and made him be understood in every corner of the large structure, that was furniihed ail around with rows of feats or benches for the convenience of the auditors., Something like these characteriftick masks lias been preferved to cur days on the Théâtre of the Italians where the principal characters as for instance : Harlecmin, the Doctor, Tartaglia and Brighello have their proper masks and dreffes in which the actors perform their parts according to their re~ fpective characters.
