The Beggar (from the Tarocchi, series E: Conditions of Man, #1)

1467

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

The Beggar (from the Tarocchi, series E: Conditions of Man, #1) 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 Beggar is a man standing in a simple setting. He's shown in a profile view, with few details around him. This makes him the focus of the scene. The Beggar is one of many figures in a series about social classes. It shows how people were seen in the 15th century. To learn more about this style, look up the technique of chiaroscuro.

The story of this work

Overview

This engraving is part of the Tarocchi group marked with the letter “E,” and named Conditions of Man . This series outlines the social and hierarchical order of ten characters (Beggar, Servant, Artisan, Merchant, Gentleman, Knight, Doge, King, Emperor, and Pope), starting from the lowest grade of society and ending with the most important one. Here, Misero (The Beggar) is shown as a full-length male figure, standing in three-quarter profile to the left, and set in an abandoned landscape. Barely covered by a short cloak, the mendicant rests on his staff, whilst two playful dogs keep him…

Read the full account in the museum source.