Artwork

Justice (from the Tarocchi, series B: Cosmic Principles & Virtues, #37)

Justice (from the Tarocchi, series B: Cosmic Principles & Virtues, #37) is a print by the Renaissance artist Master of the E-Series Tarocchi. It dates from 1467 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

You see a woman in old robes holding a balance scale. She stands straight, calm, and wears a blindfold. The image is small, about the size of your hand.

This engraving is part of a set called "Cosmic Principles and the Virtues." It was made before 1467 in Italy. Justice here isn’t just a symbol—she’s an ideal to live by.

Look up the Master of the E-Series Tarocchi (Italian, active 1400s).

Overview

This small engraving, measuring about the size of a hand, depicts the personification of Justice as part of the Tarocchi series B: Cosmic Principles & Virtues, created in Italy before 1467.

Subject & Meaning

Justice is portrayed as a calm, upright female figure in old robes, blindfolded, holding a sword in her right hand and a scale in her left. A crane stands beside her, gripping a rock, symbolizing vigilance and diligence, as referenced in medieval texts where cranes were said to hold stones to stay awake on guard duty.

Technique & Style

The engraving's style is characteristic of the Master of the E-Series Tarocchi, an Italian artist active in the 1400s, known for detailed, symbolic compositions.

History & Provenance

Created in Italy before 1467 as part of the Tarocchi series B, which includes Cosmic Principles (Light, Time, Space) and Virtues (theological: Faith, Hope, Charity; cardinal: Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude, Justice).

Context

Part of a broader set exploring fundamental Christian principles for a virtuous life, this engraving represents Justice as an ideal, not just a symbol, reflecting Renaissance humanist values.

Legacy

Attributed to the Master of the E-Series Tarocchi, this work contributes to the artist's recognized body of symbolic, allegorical prints from the 15th century.