Carnival (Carnaval)

Carnival festivities in Europe began in the 16th century when the Catholic Church, based on the lunar calendar, set the period of Lent that proceeds Easter Sunday.


Os festejos do carnaval europeu iniciaram-se no séc. XI quando a Igreja Católica, baseada no calendário lunar, estabeleceu o período da Quaresma que antecede o Domingo de Páscoa.

Unknown (18-19th century)-'view of snow drifts during the carnival in Moscow'-lithograph Bern-Century Kunstmuseum

P. Bergaigne (active 1699-1716)-'a carnival parade with masked figures'-oil on canvas Private collection

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (1725-1804)-'carnival scene (the minuet)'-oil on canvas-(1754-1755) Paris-Musée du Louvre

François Flameng (1856-1923)-'carnival, Venice'-oil on panel Private collection

Francesco Lazzaro Guardi (1712-1796)-'carnival Thursday on the Piazzeta (Venice)'-oil on canvas-(1766-1774) Paris-Musée du Louvre

Carnaval Romano (Roman Carnival)

Em Roma há uma longa tradição destes festejos desde o tempo da República Romana com cortejos denominados Saturnalicius princeps. Regressaram pela mão da Igreja Católica pelo séc. XI. No séc. XVI faziam touradas no monte Testaccio junto à Porta de São Paulo. No séc. XIX faziam corridas de cavalos na Via del Corso entre as Praças do Popolo e Veneza.

In Rome there has been a long tradition in celebrating these kinds of festivities since the time of the Roman Republic with processions called Saturnalicius princeps. They returned by the hand of the Catholic Church around 11th century. In the 16th century there were bullfights in Mount Testaccio near the Door of San Paolo. In the 19th century there were horse races in Via del Corso between the Piazza del Popolo and Venice.

Anonymous 16th century-'Monte Testaccio. Carnival bullfight'-etching

Jan Miel (ca 1599-1651)-'carnival in the Piazza Colonna'-oil on canvas

Wilhelm Wider (1818-1884)-'Carnival in Rome'-oil on canvas-1852

Aleksandr Petrovich Myasoedov (19th century)-'Carnival in Rome'-oil on canvas-1839

José Benlliure y Gil (1855-1937)-'Carnival in Rome'-oil on canvas'