All Images © Flemmens

 http://flemmens.deviantart.com/gallery/

http://flemmens.deviantart.com/gallery/2991647

by Pietro Longhi

by Gabriel Picart

by Richard J Bagguley

by Frank Kovalchek

by Wanblee

The creators of the following images are unknown to me. If you know add comments and I will credit.

Venetian masks are a centuries-old tradition of Venice, Italy. The masks are typically worn during the Carnevale (Carnival of Venice), but have been used on many other occasions in the past, usually as a device for hiding the wearer's identity and social status.

The mask would permit the wearer to act more freely in cases where he or she wanted to interact with other members of the society outside the bounds of identity and everyday convention. It was useful for a variety of purposes, some of them illicit or criminal, others just personal, such as romantic encounters. 

from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venetian_masks 

Il Medico Della Peste ~ Various Artists

Patrick Byers

1) Hoop & Stick 2) Virago89 3) J Allen 4+5) archaic imagery

Various Artists video compiled by Minister of Winter

For much more Plague Doctor art ~ 

 http://plaguedoctors.tumblr.com/