Mezzetino

Mezzetino (also Mezzetin, Italian for " half, small measure " ) is a figure of the Commedia dell'arte.

He is a so-called Zanni ( servant ) figure and well as variation of the Brighella figure (other sources speak of the Arlecchino ) emerged. In his early days he was wearing a white blouse leinerne, a face mask, a hat and a wooden sword and was developed in the 16th century by the Italian troupe of comedians Gelosi. For the personification of Mezzetino was from 1683 Angelo Constantini, who for over 40 years this role not only played in a red and white striped costume, but also lived. The figure is graceful, agile, polite and charming, playing guitar and can dance, is enigmatic, but cold, unscrupulous and heartless.

According to Karl Riha this mask was Molière ( German: Scapin's antics, and others) as a template for his Scapin in Tricks of Scapin.