Prudence (from the Tarocchi, series B: Cosmic Principles & Virtues, #35)

1467

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Allegory Ferrara

Dominant colour

Prudence (from the Tarocchi, series B: Cosmic Principles & Virtues, #35) 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

A woman stands straight. She wears a long robe and a crown. One hand holds a mirror. The other holds a snake. This engraving comes from a set of tarot-like cards made in 15th-century Italy. The series was meant to teach Christian virtues, and Prudence here shows wisdom through self-reflection. Check out more works by the Master of the E-Series Tarocchi 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 (Light, Time, and Space) alongside the three theological virtues (Faith, Hope, and Charity) and the four cardinal ones (Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude, and Justice). The latter were regarded as the basic Christian principles required for a virtuous life. Here, Prudence is personified as a full-length female figure with a bearded visage of an old man placed on the back of a graceful woman’s head. These two profiles represent the ability…

Read the full account in the museum source.