Fritz Wegner: Morris Dancers

Artist: Fritz Wegner
1924 -
Nationality: Austrian
Artwork Year: 1980
Image Size: 7 by 6 inches
Overall Size: 11.25 by 9.75 inches
Medium: Water Color on Hot Press Illustration Board

In May, when flowers were blooming along country roads and the warm sun promised another year of good crops, English peasant folk celebrated spring with the Morris Dance. This dance, which dates back to fifteenth century ritual for its origins, was performed by specially chosen and trained men. With jingling bells tied around their knees or ankles, the entertainers would weave through village streets delighting young and old alike with their merriment. Along their path, the men amused villagers with the clever pageants they performed in the streets. Often, the dancers were fitted with antlers, tails, or other animal costuming to add to the frivolity. Others dressed as popular characters such as the Queen of May or the village fool. Some of the performers blackened their faces as part of their ritualistic disguise. This is thought to be a clue to the dance's Moorish origins. Another hint to this African heritage is the dance's name which probably derived from Moorish to become the Morris Dance. But, whatever the dance's origin, or wherever it was performed, villagers believed it to bring good luck to their town and the merry dancers were welcomed everywhere.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® First Day Cover for the Great Britain 18p Morris Dancers stamp issued February 6, 1981.

Artwork Copyright © 1980 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB06793

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