Artwork
Tarocchi
Tarocchi 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 fifty small black-and-white prints laid out like a deck of cards. Each one shows a person or a planet in simple line work.
These weren’t just playing cards. A teacher in 1400s Italy used them to explain the whole universe—from beggars to God—as a ladder you could climb. The artist drew every rung, one card at a time.
Look up more prints from the subject: italy, ferrara, 15th century.
Overview
This set of 50 engravings, known as Tarocchi, is a visual representation of a 15th-century philosophical model of the universe. The prints are laid out in a card-like format, with simple line work depicting various figures and celestial bodies.
Subject & Meaning
The engravings illustrate a hierarchical structure, beginning with the Conditions of Man and ascending through the Muses, Liberal Arts, Virtues, and planetary spheres, ultimately reaching the divine realm. The series is divided into five groups, each representing a different level of this cosmic ladder.
Technique & Style
The Tarocchi prints are characterized by simple line work and were hand-colored in gold. The exact identities of the artists and craftsmen who designed and engraved the series in Northern Italy remain unknown.
History & Provenance
The museum's set, known as the 'E' series, is believed to be the first version of the Tarocchi prints. The series exists in two versions, with the 'E' series being distinguished by the letter 'E' in the lower left corner of the first group of prints.
Artist & collection
Artist
Master of the E-Series Tarocchi
Master of the E-Series Tarocchi (b. 1400) was an Italian artist.
