The Angel of the Eighth Sphere (from the Tarocchi, series A: Firmaments of the Universe, #48)

1467

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Allegory Ferrara

Dominant colour

The Angel of the Eighth Sphere (from the Tarocchi, series A: Firmaments of the Universe, #48) 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 winged angel standing on a cloud. The angel wears a long robe and holds a scroll. Soft lines and delicate shading make the figure look three-dimensional. It’s part of a set of 78 cards called the Tarocchi. This series maps the universe, with the Eight Sphere representing the farthest layer of the heavens. The angel stands between Earth and the highest divine power. Look up the Master of the E-Series Tarocchi.

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, Octava Spera (Eight Sphere or the Angel of the Eight Sphere) is personified as a full-length winged figure, turned to left, and holding up a starry sphere in its hands. This stationary angel embodies the firmament as a fixed pattern…

Read the full account in the museum source.