I created this composition in pastel as a companion to “The Card Players”. Here the young man is spellbound while an old fortune teller reveals secrets to him, unaware that the younger woman is lifting an expensive pendant from around his neck. A servant in the back is whispers private details to the old woman. The setting is a Venetian “carnivale” theme.

The carnival of Venice has an interesting history. It started in the year 1162 from a victory against the Patriarch of Aquileia. Under the rule of the King of Austria, the festival was outlawed entirely in 1797 and the use of masks became strictly forbidden. In 1979 the Italian government decided to bring back the history and culture of Venice, and sought to use the traditional Carnival as the centerpiece of their efforts. Today, approximately 3 million visitors come to Venice every year for Carnival. One of the most important events is the contest for la maschera più bella (“the most beautiful mask”) placed at the last weekend of the Carnival and juried by a panel of international costume and fashion designers.

Here is a fun piece of music. It starts out slowly, but the middle part is probably not for beginners:

Niccolò Paganini the Venice Carnivale

The artwork can be seen in another Venetian setting, the AFA gallery in the Venetian hotel. The address is below:

Grand Canal Shoppes (The Venetian)
3377 Las Vegas Blvd. South #2058
Las Vegas, NV 89109
Telephone: 702.998.6975
Mon-Thurs & Sun 10AM – 11PM
Fri & Sat 10AM – 12AM