Genius of Time (from the Tarocchi, series B: Cosmic Principles & Virtues, #32)

1467

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Allegory Ferrara

Dominant colour

Genius of Time (from the Tarocchi, series B: Cosmic Principles & Virtues, #32) 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 painting shows a figure representing the Genius of Time. It's part of a series of engravings called Tarocchi. The series includes virtues like Prudence and Justice, and principles like Light and Space, which were likely created to teach moral lessons. You can learn more about this style by looking at the work of the artist Master of the E-Series Tarocchi.

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, Chronico (Genius of Time) is personified as a full-length winged male youth in profile, turned to left. Behind him is a forest.…

Read the full account in the museum source.