Harlequin on the moon : commedia dell'arte and the visual arts / Lynne Lawner.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lawner, Lynne.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Commedia dell'arte--History and criticism.

Commedia dell'arte.

Commedia dell'arte in art.

Physical Description:

208 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 29 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Harry N. Abrams, 1998.

Summary:

Harlequin, Columbine, Pierrot ... commedia dell'arte is the first modern theater -- inspiration to Shakespeare Moliere, Mozart, and Balanchine, and forerunner of the modern stage comedy. This unique book traces the history of commedia from the court of the Sun King to ballet and opera to the experimental performance theater of today. It also, for the first time, explores why visual artists from Tiepolo and Watteau to Picasso and Hockney have been drawn to its characters and themes.

Since its invention as a popular entertainment in Renaissance Italy, commedia's absurd and witty plots and charming personalities have captivated audiences as well as painters and sculptors. Artists through the ages have found in commedia's distinctive costumes, masks, and poignant figures a wealth of inspiration.

Lynne Lawner unearths rare plays, relates theatrical gossip, and shows why commedia's characters and their classic stories have come to life again and again, in myriad styles of theater and art.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 200-202) and index.

ISBN:

0810911949

OCLC:

37770490