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Animal imitators, 14th century
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Animal imitators, 14th century
Performers imitating animals in the 14th century: man with pipe and tabor dancing with a man in stag costume; man with dancing dog, man with stick receiving a scroll from a boy with a dogs head, and man dancing with handbells in front of a man in goat costume standing on its hind legs. Handcoloured lithograph by Joseph Strutt from his own Sports and Pastimes of the People of England, Chatto and Windus, London, 1876
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Media ID 23204982
© Florilegius/Mary Evans
Goat Mask Pastimes Performers Pipe Scroll Stag Stick Strutt Tabor 14th Handbells
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This intriguing handcoloured lithograph, titled "Performers Imitating Animals in the 14th Century," by Joseph Strutt, offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of medieval entertainment. The image is filled with an array of performers and their animal imitators, each engaging in various forms of play and performance. At the center of the composition, a man in a stag costume dances exuberantly with a pipe and tabor player. The stag's antlers are adorned with flowers and foliage, while the dancer wears a costume that covers his entire body, complete with a mask to enhance the illusion. The pipe and tabor player, dressed in a simple tunic and hose, strikes a lively rhythm with his instruments, his face expressing pure joy as he watches his companion dance. To the right of the central duo, a man dances with a dog that is wearing a collar and a muzzle. The man holds a stick, which the dog seems to be following with great attention. Nearby, a boy with a mask of a dog's head hands a scroll to a man with a long stick. The man in turn appears to be receiving a reward for his performance, perhaps a payment or a token of appreciation. In the background, a man in a goat costume stands on its hind legs, playing handbells. The goat's head is covered with a mask, and its body is adorned with fur and horns. The performer in the goat suit seems to be entertaining a small crowd, who are clapping and laughing in delight. This lithograph, taken from Joseph Strutt's "Sports and Pastimes of the People of England," published in London in 1876, provides a unique window into the world of medieval entertainment, where performers and their animal imitators came together to create a world of wonder and delight for their audiences.
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