Ellis, in Harlequin garb

Sketch from a sold minicomic.

Man, I am on an Ellis kick this weekend. It's good, though. Drawing a character over and over helps reduce off-model appearances on the actual comic pages.

In some times and places, women were not allowed to act on stage, but this was not true in Italy (or at least not always; I must own that my reasearch has been light). Harlequin was usually a part played by men, but there are some exceptions in etchings and engravings that I've seen, and in porcelain sculpture. So whether or not women ever played Harlequin(e) in historical Commedia dell'Arte, I thought it would be fun to do in the comic.

Here's Ellis, dressed as Harlequine. Looks like she succeeded in her audition at the Bell, in front of the Players' Guild! And you know she won't be shy about using that slapstick!

Knights of the Shroud