Carnival
Attilio Simonetti
Carnival
Being a painter, a collector and an antique dealer were all different aspects of Simonetti’s personality. His was one that also found expression through a particular interest in the Roman Carnival.
His taste for antique clothes and textiles – initially collected for painting purposes – made him one of the greatest collectors of his time.
On the Thursday before Lent (giovedì grasso) in 1880, a parade of 60 characters crossed the city wearing original seventeenth-century costumes owned by him. Henri Le Lieure, the famous photographer, left photographic evidence of this event and his images are kept nowadays in the Museo di Roma – Palazzo Braschi.
The Carnival’s mastermind in subsequent years as well, Simonetti was Chairman of the Artistic Committee for the parades from 1895 to 1897, organizing the events and designing the mask costumes.
And he himself never failed to participate personally in these events, as can be seen from the photographs of the era portraying him in antique clothes.
Rome Carnival Committee for 1897.
Attilio Simonetti, Chairman of the Artistic Committee.
Colour lithograph, 1897.
Masked parade celebrating the Prince of Corcumello’s visit to Boccadoro Castle.
This was conceived by Simonetti for the carnival held in 1880. It involved 60 characters wearing antique costumes owned by him personally.
All the photographs of the event (work of the photographer, Henri Le Lieure) are in the Museo di Roma – Palazzo Braschi Collection.
Celeste Simonetti and the model, Paolo Sarpi, in costume for the Prince of Corcumello parade taking place on the occasion of the Rome Carnival held in 1880.
Photograph by Henri Le Lieure.
Aesthetic Gathering (Convegno estetico), Masked Character in seventeenth-century clothing for the Carnival held in 1900.
Involving members wearing clothes ranging from the Renaissance to the nineteenth century, the event was conceived by Simonetti for the courtyard of Palazzo Patrizi in Via Margutta. Photograph by Henri Le Lieure.