The Atellanae or Atellan gables were interludes in the Roman theatre introduced from Atella in Campania. They were performed not by the regular actors, but by freeborn young Romans. The characters of Macchus and Bucco are thought to be the foundations of the modern Punch and Clown. Research Atellanae
A caricature is a representation of the qualities and peculiarities of an object, but in such a way that beauties are concealed and peculiarities or defects exaggerated, so as to make the person or thing ridiculous, while a general likeness is retained. Though a degenerate, it is one of the oldest forms of art. Egyptian art has numerous specimens of caricature, and it has an important place in Greek and Roman art. It nourished in every European nation during the middle ages, and in the 19th century day was the chief feature in the so-called comic journals. The chief masters of caricature in Britain were Hogarth, Gilray, Rowlandson, Bunbury, John Doyle, Leech, Richard Doyle, Cruickshank, Tenniel, etc. Punch and Vanity Fair traditionally contained the best examples of caricature in British art. Research Caricature
The Commedia dell Arte (Also known as the Commedia dell'Arte or Commedia dell-Arte) was a type of comedy popular in Italy in the 1500s and 1600s, performed by speciality troupes who improvised on stock characters in stock situations. It influenced French farce, English pantomime, harlequinade and punch-and-Judy. The characters included: Arlecchino (Harlequin), the young male suitor of the beautiful young ingenue Columbine; Pantaloon (comic relief father of Columbine), Pierrot (Pedrolino, a childlike character in a dunce cap), and Pulcinella, a humpback servant in a striped costume, who later evolved into Punch in Punch-and-Judy. Research Commedia dell Arte
Punch, or The London Charivari, was an illustrated weekly comic paper published in London first on July 17th 1841. It ceased publication in the 1990s and has since been restarted with limited success. Research Punch
Punchinello is an older form of the name 'Punch' in the Punch and Judy show. Punchinello as a character appears in the Italian 'Comedia dell'Arte' about the beginning of the 17th century, and originated in the neighbourhood of Naples. Traditionally represented with a black mask and a hooked nose, Punchinello is a boastful clown, the hero of ridiculous and rascally exploits, and a character not devoid of wits. The character of Punchinello was transferred to the puppet show, and the French adapted the character as a dwarfish, hunch-back who was the mouth-piece of much raillery and satire. The English Punch character resembles the French puppet version of Punchinello. Research Punchinello
Punch and Judy is a puppet show in which the chief protagonist, Punch (punchinello) strangles his child, beats his wife, Judy, to death and assaults a policeman among other gruesome acts. The show was first popular in England during the reign of Queen Anne, and is still a favourite among children at the seaside. Research Punch and Judy
The Song Of The Shirt is a poem by Thomas Hood, first published in Punch magazine at Christmas 1843. The poem tells of a widowed needlewoman struggling to keep herself and two children on a paltry seven shillings a week. The poem was written to effect social change, and had a profound effect upon its publication. Research The Song Of The Shirt
The Suffolk Punch is a British breed of heavy horse which originated in Suffolk some time before the 16th century when they were known as 'the Old Breed'. The Suffolk Punch is different from the other British heavy horses in being shorter, standing 16 hands high, and having minimal feathering to the legs. They are chestnut in colour and were traditionally used for agricultural work in the heavy claysoil of East Anglia. Research Suffolk Punch
Alfred Henry Forrester (Alfred Crowquill, as he was commonly known) was an English artist. He was born in 1804 and died in 1872. He contributed sketches to Punch, the Illustrated London News and other journals. Research Alfred Forrester
Charles William Shirley Brooks was an English writer and journalist. He was born in 1816 at London and died in 1874. He wrote for Punch under the name 'Epicurus Rotundus' and in 1870 became the editor. He initiated the articles headed 'The Essence of Parliament'. Research Charles Brooks
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Atellanae
