What movement is Saturn (from the Tarocchi, series A: Firmaments of the Universe, #47)?

Saturn (from the Tarocchi, series A: Firmaments of the Universe, #47) is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Saturn (from the Tarocchi, series A: Firmaments of the Universe, #47)

Saturn (from the Tarocchi, series A: Firmaments of the Universe, #47) 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. This engraving, Saturn, is part of a series known as the Tarocchi, specifically group A, Firmaments of the Universe.

About this work

Overview

This engraving, Saturn, is part of a series known as the Tarocchi, specifically group A, Firmaments of the Universe. It is one of a set of prints representing the seven planets in classical astronomy and the celestial spheres that separate them from the Supreme Entity.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts Saturn as an elderly man turned to the left, resting on a sickle with a serpent biting its tail at the top. He is shown devouring one of his children while four others sit at his feet, personifying the planet and referencing the mythological figure.

Technique & Style

The work is an engraving, a printmaking technique that allows for detailed and intricate designs. The representation of Saturn and the accompanying elements are rendered in a style characteristic of 15th-century Italian engravings, emphasizing classical themes and motifs.

Context

The Tarocchi series, to which this engraving belongs, is significant for its comprehensive representation of the classical astronomical system and its connection to the Supreme Entity or Prima Causa, reflecting the cosmological understanding of the time.