It is impossible to visit Naples and not see the thousands of ceramic and plastic images of Pulcinella in shop windows lining Via Spaccanapoli that cuts through Naples’ historic center. A commedia dell’arte figure, dating back to the sixteenth century, Pulcinella served in his improvised roles as an everyman, assuming any role needed in the early Italian theater.

In fact, some years ago, I reviewed in this column The Punchinello Drawings by Domenico Tiepolo. (Pulcinella is spelled variously). Tiepolo depicts Pulcinella in his multiplicity of identities, from tailor, criminal, and aristocrat to artist and polenta cooker.