Masque << mask or mahsk >> was an elaborate form of entertainment presented at European courts. Although developed in France and Italy, the masque reached its height in England during the early 1600’s. English masques combined dancing, drama, music, and poetry with lavish sets and costumes, often to convey a moral message. Masques were presented as part of banquets to honor visiting royalty or to celebrate such events as a coronation, holiday, or wedding. One of the most famous masques was Comus (1637), written by the English poet John Milton to honor the Earl of Bridgewater’s appointment as Lord President of Wales.
The English architect Inigo Jones was the most gifted designer of English masques. Beginning in 1605, he collaborated in the production of masques with the English poet and playwright Ben Jonson. Many of their works opened with an antimasque—that is, an allegory (symbolic story) in song, dance, and poetry involving grotesque and comic characters. The masque followed, portraying in allegory the triumph of the forces of good and virtue—roles often acted and danced by the royal hosts and their courtiers. At the close, actors danced with partners from the audience.
