The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 13, 2026

A vertically oriented engraving in black ink depicts a winged figure with light skin tone facing our right. The figure wears a short, cinched tunic and supports a globe decorated with stars and buildings in their raised hand on our left. Behind, a row of slender tree trunks stands before rounded hills. A decorative geometric border frames the scene. In the bottom margin, the text COSMICO XXXIII and the number 33 appear.

Genius of the World (from the Tarocchi, series B: Cosmic Principles & Virtues, #33)

before 1467

Master of the E-Series Tarocchi

(Italian, active 1400s)
Italy, Ferrara, 15th century
engraving
Dudley P. Allen Fund 1924.432.33
Catalogue raisonné: Hind E.I. 33a
Location: Not on view

Description

This engraving is part of the group marked with the letter “B,” and named Cosmic Principles and the Virtues, which comprises the three Universal principles or Genii (Light, Time, and Space) alongside the four cardinal virtues (Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude, and Justice) and the three theological ones (Faith, Hope, and Charity). The three allegorical figures of the Genii open group B and appear to be an artistic invention of the author of the Tarocchi series.

Here, Cosmico (Genius of the World) is personified as a full-length winged male youth, in frontal view. Behind him is a forest. In his right hand, Cosmico holds up a celestial sphere.
  • {{cite web|title=Genius of the World (from the Tarocchi, series B: Cosmic Principles & Virtues, #33)|url=false|author=Master of the E-Series Tarocchi|year=before 1467|access-date=13 April 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1924.432.33