Steven the Great!16:30 Jul 21 2014
Times Read: 735
I have an offer to play one of the trusted men of Steven III the Great - the cousin of Dracula - at a traditional-folklore based country fair in a close village.
My character, Luca Arbore is the keeper of the gates of the voivod. He was also playing the role of parcalab, a sort of governor of a region that had general of war attributes.
This is the guy`s portrait from one of the churches he built during his life:
In the image, the noble boyar Luca Arbore is depicted with his wife, Iuliana and his first two sons.
Detailed image :
http://www.ulitarnica.ro/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/2010-05-23-14-arbore-chivotul-de-mormc3a2nt-a-lui-luca-arbore.jpg
He wears a green caftan (long overcoat) decorated with gold. Each nobleman from the court was gifted with a specific colour of caftan once the new voivode took the throne and he gave the titles. In time having a caftan was synonymous with having a job(ministry) at the court. The tiara on his head is also an element of costume pretty interesting. He wore beard and a V shaped moustache.
Lady Iuliana has also a green Bysantine-based gown but the white sleeves with green indicate a peasant origin of the shirt. The combination was in the same time modern and stylish but also traditional and humble with a touch of glamor.
The faces were obviously re-painted.
The gesture of lady Iuliana with the hand on the head of the little boy had the significance of being a tender mother and it`s so lovely.
The haircut of the boys was very western for the time and possibly indicates the tastes of the parents toward the diplomatic relations with the Polish empire(Moldavia was under Polish protection at the time).
Luca Arbore ended tragically as he was beheaded some years after the death of Steven the Great... Renaissance times, huh? The cause of his death? Gossip. Others told nasty things about him to the new voivod, Stefanita.
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