Posted on Thursday 8 November 2007
Celebrating Italian Festivals at the Beinecke Library of Yale University is an exhibition of books produced between the 16th and 19th century in Italy which document public, religious and civil festivals in towns and provinces held by aristocratic families, courts and rulers of church and state.
The festivals that are recounted relate to a variety of significant occasions such as births, funerals, betrothals, weddings, elections, coronations, or the visit of popes or royals and often included parades, theatrical performances, operas, banquets and athletic competitions. It became a tradition in the 16th century to record such festivities by publishing illustrated books and such celebrations were seen as a reflection of wealth and status.
Celebrating Italian Festivals contains circa 65 items and is viewable till the 9th of January 2008 in the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library of Yale University.
The festivals that are recounted relate to a variety of significant occasions such as births, funerals, betrothals, weddings, elections, coronations, or the visit of popes or royals and often included parades, theatrical performances, operas, banquets and athletic competitions. It became a tradition in the 16th century to record such festivities by publishing illustrated books and such celebrations were seen as a reflection of wealth and status.
Celebrating Italian Festivals contains circa 65 items and is viewable till the 9th of January 2008 in the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library of Yale University.