Hill and Wang | 1965 | Pdf | Eng | 212 pag | 31.7 MB

By JAMES LAYER
Illustrated with 174 drawings and photographs

James Laver enjoys an international reputation as a social historian and "philosopher of fashion," and in this new work he turns his attention to the theatre. He traces the story of costume from primitive times, "when all costume was theatrical costume," through costume in the Greek and Roman theatre; medieval mysteries, miracles, and moralities; pageants and masques; comnmedia dell'arte;  shakespeare; opera and ballet.
He concludes with costuming in the last century and a half. Mr. Laver was for many years Keeper of Prints and Drawings at the Victoria and Albert Museum, where he was  responsible for assembling one of the most important theatrical collections in existence. He has drawn freely from this material in compiling the illustrations for this book