Venetian Stories

Episode 25 — The Venetian Carnival

Painting from the 1490s of a religious procession in Piazza San Marco, with the words Venetian Stories across

Written and presented by

René Seindal
Venetian Stories
Venetian Stories
Episode 25 — The Venetian Carnival
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The Venetian carnival was famous, and was so already in the Middle Ages. Kings travelled across Europe to see the Venetian carnival. It was one of the must-see things for travellers to Venice.

The carnival was not, however, like the modern cheap replica.

The ancient Venetian carnival sported such noble activities as pig-chasing in the alleyways, a flying Turk delivering flowers, and the public execution of a bull by sword.

Read the full transcript.

Links

History Walks Venice.

Images

An ancient print on yellowed paper, with a very crowded scene. On the left the Doge's Palace, on the right the Marciana library, in the background the lagoon behind the two large columns. On either side, temporary seating propped up on barrels, with several rows of benches, full of similarly looking figures. The entire square is full of people and events. In the middle a human tower, several persons tall. To the left of them, the beheading of a bull by sword, and in front, a bull is running loose, with people running away from it. In the front, what appears like a religious procession, detached and separate from the events behind.
The feast of Fat Thursday (c.1610)
A painting from 1751 by Pietro Longhi, showing the rhino in the front, occupying half the canvas. One two raised steps behind stand the spectators, with Mout van der Meer to the left, detached horn in his raised hand. Most spectators are masked.
The Rhinocerous by Pietro Longhi, commisioned by N.U. Giovanni Grimani.

The first six illustrations are from Gli abiti de veneziani (1754) by Giovanni Grevembroch. The print is from Habiti d’huomeni et donne venetiane (1610) by Giacomo Franco, and the painting by Pietro Longhi (1751).

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