Artwork
Iupiter (Jupiter)
Iupiter (Jupiter) 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.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1465, the print titled Iupiter (Jupiter) is an engraved plate with applied gilding, attributed to the anonymous workshop known as the Master of the E‑Series Tarocchi. The composition presents a crowned, bearded figure seated on a cloud, wielding a staff, surrounded by a chaotic tableau of fallen figures and winged guardians.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure represents the Roman god Jupiter, identified by his crown, staff, and star‑adorned robe, symbols of sovereignty and celestial authority. The scattered bodies below suggest defeated enemies or chaotic forces, while the two eagle‑headed, human‑bodied winged creatures function as sentinels, reinforcing the theme of divine power triumphing over disorder.
Technique & Style
The work employs intricate line engraving, a demanding method that allows subtle gradations of tone through cross‑hatching and delicate shading, creating a sense of depth uncommon in mid‑15th‑century prints. Gilded highlights accentuate the divine aura of the central figure, while the fine incisions convey the texture of clouds, robes, and the tumultuous ground plane.
History & Provenance
Attributed to the Master of the E‑Series Tarocchi, a workshop active in northern Italy during the late Gothic period, the engraving reflects the period’s interest in allegorical and mythological subjects. The plate’s survival in collections of early prints demonstrates its role in disseminating iconographic models of Jupiter across European artistic circles.
Artist & collection
Artist
Master of the E-Series Tarocchi
Master of the E-Series Tarocchi (b. 1400) was an Italian artist.
