Commedia dell'arte

Commedia dell'arte was a style of performance which was popular across Italy but was not isolated to. It began in the 16th century and was enjoyed in Europe for 200 years.

This is a list of stock characters and their attributes.

Here is an example of various masks that would be worn. 

As well as the masks, costumes like these would have been worn:

Colombina - She is dressed

in a ragged and patched 

dress, appropriate to a

hired servant.

                            

Arlecchino - He is

characterised by

his chequered costume.

Pulcinella - Always dressed

 in white with a black mask

 (hence conciliating the 

opposites of life and death)

Pantalone - Dark colors of

black, grey and red. 

Dynamic Pantaloons,

red tights and yellow

turkish slippers.

The character of Colombina would not have always worn a mask but when she did, it would be something like this.

Not covering the whole face, just covering the section around the eyes. 

Arlecchino would wear a mask with short, fat features. Often portrayed with a boil or a spot on the forehead. 

Pulcinella's mask is black in a contrast with his entirely white costume. 

Pantalone's mask will have ridged brows and thick facial hair to show his age. 

This video probably explains the stock characters better than I could.