Who painted Poetry (from the Tarocchi, series C: Liberal Arts, #27)?

Poetry (from the Tarocchi, series C: Liberal Arts, #27) was painted by Master of the E-Series Tarocchi in 1467.

Where can I see Poetry (from the Tarocchi, series C: Liberal Arts, #27)?

Poetry (from the Tarocchi, series C: Liberal Arts, #27) is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Poetry (from the Tarocchi, series C: Liberal Arts, #27)?

Poetry (from the Tarocchi, series C: Liberal Arts, #27) is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Poetry (from the Tarocchi, series C: Liberal Arts, #27)

Master of the E-Series Tarocchi , 1467

Poetry (from the Tarocchi, series C: Liberal Arts, #27) 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 can learn more about this style by looking at the work of the Master of the E-Series Tarocchi.

This painting shows a woman surrounded by symbols of learning.
She holds a book and a laurel wreath.
The woman represents Poetry, one of the liberal arts.

The liberal arts were important in the 15th century. They included subjects like music and astronomy. Poetry was added to the traditional list of liberal arts. This addition shows how poetry was valued.

You can learn more about this style by looking at the work of the Master of the E-Series Tarocchi.

Overview

This engraving, titled Poetry, is part of the Liberal Arts series (series C) within the Tarocchi set, a 15th-century print collection expanding on classical liberal arts themes.

Subject & Meaning

The print personifies Poetry as a youthful female figure crowned with a laurel wreath, situated before Mount Parnassus and a fountain symbolizing the Castalian spring, a revered source of poetic inspiration. She plays a flute, emblematic of eloquence, while irrigating the earth with inspirational waters, highlighting Poetry's nurturing role in the arts.

Technique & Style

The work, characteristic of the Master of the E-Series Tarocchi's style, features allegorical representation common in late medieval depictions of liberal arts, where abstract concepts are embodied by female figures amidst symbolic landscapes.

History & Provenance

Part of an enlarged Tarocchi set that added Poetry, Philosophy, and Theology to the traditional liberal arts, this engraving reflects the heightened value placed on poetry during the 15th century.

Context

Created in a period where liberal arts education was pivotal for participation in free society, this piece belongs to a visual tradition of depicting these arts as female allegories, emphasizing their importance in Renaissance humanist culture.

Legacy

This engraving, through its representation of Poetry, contributes to the visual and intellectual heritage of the liberal arts in the Renaissance, influencing subsequent artistic and educational traditions.