Terpsichore (dancing and song) (from the Tarocchi series D: Apollo and the Muses, #13)

1467

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Mythology Ferrara

Dominant colour

Terpsichore (dancing and song) (from the Tarocchi series D: Apollo and the Muses, #13) 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 woman dancing and playing music. She's one of the Muses from Greek mythology. The Muses were goddesses of the arts and sciences, and each had a special role, which is interesting because it shows how art and learning were valued back then. You can learn more about this style by looking at the work of the artist: Master of the E-Series Tarocchi (Italian, active 1400s)

The story of this work

Overview

This engraving is part of the Tarocchi group marked with the letter “D,” and named Apollo and the Muses . In Greek mythology, the nine Muses (Calliope, Urania, Terpsichore, Erato, Polyhymnia, Thalia, Melpomene, Euterpe, and Clio) were the daughters of Zeus, king of the gods, and Mnemosyne, the Titaness of memory. The Muses were goddesses presiding over different branches of the arts and sciences. Their leader and supervisor was Apollo, the god of light, music, prophecy, and poetry. Here, Terpsicore (Terpsichore) is personified as a full-length female figure, in frontal view, set in an…

Read the full account in the museum source.