Wide view of Venice: Piazza San Marco - Riva degli Schiavoni

FACETIA PRUDENTE mask

(Cautious Tease)

This is a curious mask that was going around Venice in Carnival time.

Meaning can be translated with something like: cautious tease.

The logic: "Kids are a pain in the neck and noisy: making them tired restores the adults' quiet living".

With this purpose in mind, this Pulcinella masks would tease the kids offering them the "confetti" - very desirable Venetian sweets - using a fishing pole, so they wouldn't easily grab them.

Confetti are very hard to reach - of course - thus achieving the purpose of making the kids tired.

Simple solutions are usually the best ones.

Watercolor by Giovanni Grevembroch: "Facetia Prudente"
Giovanni Grevembroch: "Facetia Prudente" (Cautious Tease)
pen, ink & watercolor (18th century) - Museo Correr, Venezia

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