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

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

before 1467

Master of the E-Series Tarocchi

(Italian, active 1460s)
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Culture
Italy, Ferrara, 15th century
Medium
engraving
Credit Line
Dudley P. Allen Fund 1924.432.48
Catalogue raisonné
Hind E.I. 48a
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print

Description

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 of stars, which according to Ptolemaic thought was believed to revolve around the planet earth.
A vertically oriented print in black ink depicts an angel with light skin tone standing on a curved base, bracing an orb filled with stars. Facing our left and looking upward, the angel wears heavily draped robes and large feathered wings. A diamond-patterned border frames the scene. Below, an inscription reads: "OCTAVA SPERA XXXXVIII 48."

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

before 1467

Master of the E-Series Tarocchi

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

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