14 Facts About Harlequin

Harlequin is the best-known of the zanni or comic servant characters from the Italian commedia dell'arte, associated with the city of Bergamo.

Harlequin's role is that of a light-hearted, nimble, and astute servant, often acting to thwart the plans of his master, and pursuing his own love interest, Columbina, with wit and resourcefulness, often competing with the sterner and melancholic Pierrot.

Harlequin later develops into a prototype of the romantic hero.

Name Harlequin is taken from that of a mischievous "devil" or "demon" character in popular French passion plays.

Martinelli's Harlequin had a black leather half-mask, a moustache and a pointed beard.

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Harlequin was very nimble and performed the sort of acrobatics the audience expected to see.

Harlequin has the more arduous task of maintaining the even rhythm of the comedy as a whole.

Harlequin is therefore always on the go, very agile and more acrobatic than any of the other Masks.

Harlequin is typically cast as the servant of an innamorato or vecchio much to the detriment of the plans of his master.

Harlequin is known to try to win any given lady for himself if he chances upon anyone else trying to woo her, by interrupting or ridiculing the new competitor.

Harlequin wears a fox's brush, a large three-tiered collarette, wide breeches, and a loose jacket tied tightly by a belt.

Harlequin dons a neckerchief dropped over the shoulders like a small cape.

Harlequin developed the character of Harlequin into a mischievous magician who was easily able to evade Pantaloon and his servants to woo Columbine.

Harlequin was modified to become "romantic and mercurial, instead of mischievous", leaving Grimaldi's mischievous and brutish Clown as the "undisputed agent" of chaos, and the foil for the more sophisticated Harlequin, who retained and developed stylized dance poses during the 19th century.