Mercury (from the Tarocchi, series A: Firmaments of the Universe, #42)

1467

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Allegory Ferrara

Dominant colour

Mercury (from the Tarocchi, series A: Firmaments of the Universe, #42) 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

The painting shows a male figure in profile, blowing air. He's dressed in flowing clothes. This work is interesting because it personifies a planet as a human. The figure is Mercury, from ancient astronomy. He's shown as a full-length man, in profile to the left. To learn more about similar art, look up the museum: The Cleveland Museum of Art.

The story of this work

Overview

This engraving is part of the Tarocchi group marked with the letter “A”, and named Firmaments of the Universe . This series comprises the seven planets from the classical astronomy (Moon, Mercury, Venus, Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn) and the three celestial spheres that separate them from the Supreme Entity (Prima Causa ) from which everything was originated. Here, Mercurio (Mercury) is personified as a full-length male figure, in profile to the left, while blowing a flute. Mercury appears as Hermes, the Greek messenger of gods. In his right hand holds up a caduceus , a herald staff at the top…

Read the full account in the museum source.