Who painted Geometria (Geometry)?

Geometria (Geometry) was painted by Master of the E-Series Tarocchi in 1465.

Where can I see Geometria (Geometry)?

Geometria (Geometry) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Geometria (Geometry)?

Geometria (Geometry) is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Geometria (Geometry)

Master of the E-Series Tarocchi , 1465

Geometria (Geometry) is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Master of the E-Series Tarocchi. It dates from 1465 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created around 1465, this engraving titled Geometria is attributed to the anonymous Master of the E‑Series Tarocchi.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1465, this engraving titled Geometria is attributed to the anonymous Master of the E‑Series Tarocchi. Executed on paper with ink and limited gilding, the print presents a floating female figure set against a stylised landscape. The composition is organized around a central act of measurement, emphasizing the intellectual theme suggested by the inscription at the bottom.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure, a woman seated on a cloud, holds a stylus poised over three geometric forms—a circle, a square and a triangle.

The central figure, a woman seated on a cloud, holds a stylus poised over three geometric forms—a circle, a square and a triangle. This arrangement alludes to the classical elements of geometry as a foundational discipline, while the surrounding river and distant settlements frame the study within a broader worldly context. The inscription "Geometria" reinforces the instructional character of the image.

Technique & Style

The work is an engraving, a printmaking process that employs incised lines on a copper plate to produce fine, controlled strokes. The artist achieved depth through delicate hatching and cross‑hatching, while traces of gilding add subtle highlights. The figure’s draped robe and the landscape’s miniature architecture are rendered with precise, linear detail characteristic of mid‑15th‑century Northern European prints.

History & Provenance

Attributed to the Master of the E‑Series Tarocchi, a workshop known for producing a series of allegorical cards, the print belongs to a corpus of didactic images circulated in the late medieval period. Although the original ownership records are scarce, the engraving survives in several museum collections, indicating its continued relevance as a pedagogical illustration of geometric principles.