Genius of the World (from the Tarocchi, series B: Cosmic Principles & Virtues, #33)

1467

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

Genius of the World (from the Tarocchi, series B: Cosmic Principles & Virtues, #33) 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 a robed woman holding a glowing orb. She floats above a cloudy sky with a sunburst behind her. The image looks like a mix of a saint and a cosmic symbol. This print comes from a rare set called the Tarocchi. It’s not regular playing cards—these images explain ideas about time and space. The artist made up three “Genii” to start the series. See this at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

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 or Genii (Light, Time, and Space) alongside the four cardinal virtues (Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude, and Justice) and the three theological ones (Faith, Hope, and Charity). The three allegorical figures of the Genii open group B and appear to be an artistic invention of the author of the Tarocchi series. Here, Cosmico (Genius of the World) is personified as a full-length winged male youth, in frontal view. Behind him is a forest. In…

Read the full account in the museum source.