Artwork
Saturno (Saturn)
Saturno (Saturn) is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Master of the S-Series Tarocchi. It dates from 1470 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Saturn is an early Renaissance engraving attributed to the anonymous Master of the S‑Series Tarocchi, dated to around 1470.
About this work
Overview
Saturn is an early Renaissance engraving attributed to the anonymous Master of the S‑Series Tarocchi, dated to around 1470. Executed in black‑and‑white line work, the print presents a solitary figure in a long robe, surrounded by a decorative border that frames the central scene.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a bearded man wearing a headpiece and holding a staff in his right hand while cradling a diminutive figure in his left. At his feet lie five smaller figures, each distinguished by unique clothing and hairstyles, suggesting a narrative or allegorical grouping that may reference mythological or astrological themes associated with the planet Saturn.
Technique & Style
The work employs fine incised lines characteristic of 15th‑century engraving, creating strong tonal contrasts between the dark outlines and the white paper. The intricate border and the careful rendering of textures—such as the robe’s folds and the figures’ hair—demonstrate the artist’s skill in manipulating line to convey depth and detail without the use of color.
History & Provenance
Attributed to the Master of the S‑Series Tarocchi, a workshop known for producing a series of tarot‑related prints, the engraving belongs to a corpus of works that circulated among collectors in northern Italy during the late Gothic to early Renaissance transition. Its survival in several copies indicates it was reproduced and valued in its own time.
Context
Created during the early diffusion of Renaissance ideas, the print reflects the period’s fascination with classical mythology, astrology, and symbolic representation. The figure’s attributes—staff, headpiece, and accompanying miniatures—align with contemporary iconography used to personify planetary deities and their associated narratives.
Artist & collection
