Giovanni Trevisan Volpato

The costumes, street cries, and occupations of the colorful characters who plied their trades on Italian streets and piazze were popular subjects for early modern prints. Performers flocked to cities during festivals when business was especially good, but they could also be found throughout the year going door-to-door with their specialized, portable equipment and sounds to attract customers. This print shows a puppeteer and a blind street musician in front of a collapsible wood-and-canvas

stage for their Punch-and-Judy show. The small bell in the foreground, like the happy sound of the violin, would attract customers to the ramshackle corner of the city in time to take in the show.