Artwork Page for The Merchant (from the Tarocchi, series E: Conditions of Man, #4)

Details / Information for The Merchant (from the Tarocchi, series E: Conditions of Man, #4)

The Merchant (from the Tarocchi, series E: Conditions of Man, #4)

before 1467

Master of the E-Series Tarocchi

(Italian, active 1460s)
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Culture
Italy, Ferrara, 15th century
Medium
engraving hand-colored with gold
Credit Line
Dudley P. Allen Fund 1924.432.4
Catalogue raisonné
Hind E. I. 4a
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print

Description

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 lower grade and ending with the most important one.

Here, Merchadante (The Merchant) is shown as a full-length male figure, turned to the left. He reads a piece of paper that he is holding in his hands.
A vertically oriented engraving on aged paper depicts a merchant, a man with light skin tone standing within a decorative rectangular border. Looking down at a small paper, he wears a long, pleated robe with voluminous sleeves and a draped headpiece. Fine hatching defines shadows against the light background. Latin text at the bottom reads "MERCHADANTE IIII." The figure's gaze is fixed on the document in this sparse, framed composition.

The Merchant (from the Tarocchi, series E: Conditions of Man, #4)

before 1467

Master of the E-Series Tarocchi

(Italian, active 1460s)
Italy, Ferrara, 15th century

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