Charity (from the Tarocchi, series B: Cosmic Principles & Virtues, #38)

1467

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Allegory Ferrara

Dominant colour

Charity (from the Tarocchi, series B: Cosmic Principles & Virtues, #38) is a 1467 by Master of the E-Series Tarocchi, a Renaissance work, depicting Ferrara, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Master of the E-Series Tarocchi
When & what style?: 1467 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This engraving shows Charity as a woman holding a baby. She wears simple robes and has three small children around her feet. One child tugs her sleeve while another clutches a book. Charity is one of three virtues in this series about cosmic ideas. The artist carved fine lines to make shadows and textures pop. It’s a quiet scene but full of small details. Look up chiaroscuro to see how light and dark shapes help the figures stand out.

The story of this work

Overview

This engraving is part of the group marked with the letter “B,” and named Cosmic Principles and the Virtues , which comprises the three Universal principles (Light, Time, and Space) alongside the four cardinal virtues (Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude, and Justice) and the three theological ones (Faith, Hope, and Charity). The latter are a Christian concept originating from a passage in the first Book of Corinthians (1 Corinthians 13:13). Here personified as a full-length female figure, Charita (Charity) simultaneously personifies the love of God ( caritas Dei or amor Dei )—by parting her…

Read the full account in the museum source.