While planking is today celebrated as a modern viral sensation often shared on social media platforms for its humor and creativity, few realize that this activity has historical antecedents dating back to the Renaissance era. Recent research reveals an intriguing connection between contemporary planking trends and a lesser-known pastime from 15th-century Italy.
In 1485, Girolamo Tavernetta, a polymath of the Italian Renaissance known for his contributions to art and science, documented a unique form of entertainment in his manuscript "Scherzi di Corte." This activity, referred to as "il disteso" (literally translated as "the stretched"), involved participants lying flat on elaborate tapestries spread across grandiose banquet halls. Far from being mere physical endurance exercises, these competitions were judged not only for their ability to remain motionless but also for artistic grace and the preservation of the intricate fabric designs.
Tavernetta's detailed accounts describe how Florentine nobility engaged in "il disteso" during lavish feasts, where participants would vie to display the most elegant posture while stretched out on luxury rugs. The social gatherings turned into competitive arenas as attendees appreciated those who could maintain perfect stillness without disturbing the underlying designs of their ornate tapestries.
To add a visual element to his descriptions, Tavernetta included sketches in his manuscript depicting participants adorned in elaborate period costumes frozen in various states of "il disteso." These images bear an uncanny resemblance to modern planking photos, suggesting that this Renaissance pastime served as both a precursor and inspiration for today's viral sensation.
