Mask Collection (#86)

Portrait of a Comedian: portrait of Francesco Andreini holding a mask, 1729-40. 1729-40
Portrait of a Comedian: portrait of Francesco Andreini holding a mask, 1729-40

Three half-length figures from a Venetian carnival, 1750-1822. 1750-1822
Three half-length figures from a Venetian carnival, 1750-1822

Ornamental Design with Antique-style Mask, 1550-1600. Creator: Anon
Ornamental Design with Antique-style Mask, 1550-1600

Jealous Mask Date: 1954

[Fencer], 1906. Creator: George Demeny
[Fencer], 1906

Pitta brachyura, Indian pitta
Plate 51, painting by Pieter Cornelius de Bevere, from the Loten Collection of coloured drawings of Birds, Mammals, Insects & Plants, (1754-57)

RADA figure, Comedy
Comedy, a grotesque figure with an Ancient Greek mask, by sculptor Alan Durst, carved in Portland stone, over the doorway of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, London. Date: 12 November 1931

ROMAN ACTORS PREPARE
Roman actors prepare for a performance : a mask rests on a shelf, others are in a basket; an actor helps another don his costume; a musician rehearses

A TRAGIC ACTOR
A tragic actor, wearing a traditional mask to express the appropriate emotion

BOY PLAYS IN MASK C1870
A boy in a grotesque mask frightens his little sister Date: circa 1870

BOY IN MASK AND SISTER
A boy in a grotesque mask frightens his little sister Date: circa 1870

DOFFING THE MASK
Doffing the mask ! Date: 1910

Father CMas - Birch Twig
Father Christmas arrives at the Thalberg familys house bearing gifts for the good children but a birch twig for the naughty children. He receives a mixed reception. Date: Circa 1815

ANNE BELLAMY / COMIC MUSE
GEORGE ANNE BELLAMY Actress, as the Comic Muse Date: 1731? - 1788

Masked carnival couple in Venice, Italy
A masked carnival couple in Venice, Italy. Date: 18th century

Masquerade, mid-19th century. Creator: Mariano Jose Maria Bernardo Fortuny y Carbo
Masquerade, mid-19th century

Vampyre, from The Comic Natural History of the Human Race, 1851

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Japan, Tokyo, Tamachi JR Train station, the end of the large bridge passing over the train tracks, people walking

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Laos, Armed guard on upcountry truck

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Venezuela, San Francisco de Yare, brightly coloured masks of devil dancers

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Italy, Veneto, Venice, Red, green, blue and gold carnival masks in front of partly seen facade of the Hotel Danieli

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Japan, Festivals, People dressed in Traditional Costume

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Italy, Veneto, Venice. Carnival masks in front of partly seen facade of Hotel Danieli

Thailand, Sukhothai, Si Satchanalai, Girls wearing large painted masks to celebrate novice monks

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Art, Graffiti, former parcel delivery warehouse converted into roller disco with the walls decorated by local graffiti artists. Data written next to hooded and masked character

Italy, Veneto, Venice, mask, Piazza San Marco

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Thailand, Bangkok, Thai worker in mask against pollution packing Pineapple in Chinatown market

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Thailand, Bangkok, Street vendor selling sausages in early evening light, 5 Baht each, cheapest food in the city

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Mexico, Bajio, Zacatecas, mask mould in the Museo Rafael Coronel

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Mexico, Bajio, Zacatecas, cat masks in the Museo Rafael Coronel

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Mexico, Bajio, Zacatecas, cat masks in Museo Rafael Coronel

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Mexico, Bajio, Zacatecas, Day of the Dead masks, Museo Rafael Coronel, Dia se los Muertos

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Mexico, Bajio, Zacatecas, Day of the Dead masks, Museo Rafael Coronel, Dia se los Muertos

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Egypt, Cairo, Painting of Tutankhamuns death mask on papyrus paper

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Mexico, Bajio, Zacatecas, mask made from an armadillo shell in the Museo Rafael Coronel

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Mexico, Bajio, Zacatecas, mask for the Dance of the Moors in the Museo Rafael Coronel

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Mexico, Bajio, Zacatecas, devil mask in the Museo Rafael Coronel

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Turkey, Izmir Province, Selcuk, Corinthian column with protective lion mask beneath palm tree at ancient site of the Temple of Artemis

Churchill - with gas mask and whistle
Churchill - apparently with gas mask and whistle! Pub unknown

Ancient Gold Mask in The Gold Museum, Bogota, Cundinamarca, Colombia, South America

Masquerading, [August 30, 1811], reprinted. [August 30, 1811], reprinted
Masquerading, [August 30, 1811], reprinted

Winter, from The Seasons, 1643-44. 1643-44. Creator: Wenceslaus Hollar
Winter, from The Seasons, 1643-44

Masquerade, [August 30, 1811], copy after. [August 30, 1811], copy after
Masquerade, [August 30, 1811], copy after

Title Page, Rowlandsons Caricature Magazine, Vol. 5, 1808. 1808
Title Page, Rowlandsons Caricature Magazine, Vol. 5, 1808

Title Page, Rowlandsons Caricature Magazine, 1808. 1808. Creator: Thomas Rowlandson
Title Page, Rowlandsons Caricature Magazine, 1808

Masquerading, August 30, 1811. August 30, 1811. Creator: Thomas Rowlandson
Masquerading, August 30, 1811

Title Page, The Caricature Magazine by G. M. Woodward, Vol. 4, 1809. 1809
Title Page, The Caricature Magazine by G. M. Woodward, Vol. 4, 1809

Vietnamese pancakes in a street market, Mui Ne, Bin Thuan, Vietnam, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

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"Masks: Unveiling the Rich Tapestry of History and Culture" From the golden mask of Tutankhamun displayed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Egypt to the haunting plague doctor masks depicted in 17th-century artwork, masks have played a significant role throughout history. In a vibrant 19th-century painting, Pulcinella is seen donning a mask while offering pasta to a little Pulcinella, showcasing how masks were not only used for disguise but also as symbols of tradition and entertainment. During times of war and conflict, masks took on new meanings. A recruitment poster for the Corps of Military Police reminds us of their importance in protecting soldiers' identities. Meanwhile, Jackie Robinson's daring steal home under catcher Andy Seminick's tag showcases how even sports embraced masks as tools for strategy and triumph. The dark days of World War II saw women wearing gas masks on the home front as protection against chemical attacks. These images serve as powerful reminders of resilience during challenging times. Masks also hold cultural significance beyond warfare. At Venice Carnival, two ladies adorned with blue and gold masks celebrate this UNESCO World Heritage Site's rich heritage and traditions. Even great composers like Ludwig van Beethoven found inspiration from life or death masks when studying his own features or those who came before him. The intricate details captured by these molds provide insight into their lives and legacies. Whether they are made from gold or worn out of necessity during wartime, whether they conceal our faces or reveal our true selves through artistry - these various types of masks remind us that behind every face lies a story waiting to be told, and are windows into different eras, cultures, emotions – connecting us all through time and space.