Artwork not found. This piece is seen in several photographs.
This artwork depicts the Dragon or Devil Band of Carnival and depicts the three main characters of this type of carnival band, Imps, Beasts, and Gownmen.
Carnival Costumes - The Art of the Carnival Costume, by Sybil Atteck
Of the Traditional Costumes the Devils and Demons (or Beasts) and Gownmen, as they are sometimes called, are very beautiful costumes. Although not strictly an old time Carnival costume the Beast has always been in our carnival. Nowadays the Devil masker has become very popular and there is a tendency to elaborate on this costume. For instance, the traditional colours used for these were red or green, but gold and other metallic colour are now being used, also plastic materials for the beast costumes. Beads and rhinestones, paintings, embroidery and even metal medallions are now being used, also for some of the characters like King Lucifer for Belzeebub.
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The Dragon Band or Devil Band as it was first known originated from the Jab Jab or Devil Mas'. It had its beginnings in 1906 when Patrick Jones assisted by Gilbert Scamaroni, and prompted by a sacred picture illustrating the exorcision of the devil from a sick person, decided to organise a band. This sacred picture was seen by Patrick Jones at a shop situated at what is now No. 65 Queen Street in the City of Port-of-Spain.
It is interesting to note that while Patrick Jones introduced this type of mas' because of its novelty and its dramatic possibilities there is now a well established theory about dragon mas'. The theory is that the dragon band is an ambulatory depiction of Satan and his horde cast from Heaven. Theoretically he and his followers return to earth on the two days before the Lenten season commences in order during "the forty days and forty nights" to try the virtue of the faithful. It seems that though this theory is fairly wide-spread and well known, the persons who play this kind of mas' feel no reluctance in portraying the forces of evil and regard it merely as a means of enjoying themselves. Undoubtedly however, some individuals go through periods of great excitement preparing to play this type of mas' and seem to be completely absorbed during this period with thoughts of the two days of revelry to come.
Dragon bands consist of three sets of players:
Imps, Beasts, and Gownmen.
The beasts wear an overall type costume of scales (sometimes wool) with usually a movable tongue and tail, the head mask of a dragon, and a chain around their waists from which go three or four lengths in different directions. These chains are held by imps who by means of them control the progress of their character. The dance of the beast consists of a lunging movement, portraying attempts to strike surrounding imps who constantly goad him while their companions restrain his efforts by pulling on the chains. The number of beasts in any band is unlimited but usually there are not more than three, one of which is the chief beast.
The imps wear face masks with horns, and tights with wings and tails. They carry in their hands an assortment of implements including axes, scrolls, horns, bells, dice, face cards and scales with weights. One of them is known as the King Imp or Tempter, and he carries either a bell or a face card and plays a prominent part in the dance of "crossing the water".
- Subject Matter: Carnival
- Created: 1959