The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of July 18, 2026

A vertically oriented engraving in black ink depicts Mars, a man with light skin tone, enthroned atop a chariot and facing forward. Wearing full armor and a helmet, he holds a sword upright. A dog lies at his feet on the chariot's platform. Columns and a patterned border frame the figure. At the bottom, the inscription MARTE XXXXV is centered, while the number 45 appears in the lower right corner.

Mars (from the Tarocchi, series A: Firmaments of the Universe, #45)

before 1467

Master of the E-Series Tarocchi

(Italian, active 1460s)
Italy, Ferrara, 15th century
engraving
Dudley P. Allen Fund 1924.432.45
Catalogue raisonné: Hind E.I. 45a
Location: Not on view

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, Marte (Mars) is personified as a full-length male figure, in frontal view, and seated on a chariot-like throne. Mars is armored and holds up a sword in his right hand. A wolf lays at his feet.
  • Images of War. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (November 5, 1991-January 12, 1992).
  • {{cite web|title=Mars (from the Tarocchi, series A: Firmaments of the Universe, #45)|url=false|author=Master of the E-Series Tarocchi|year=before 1467|access-date=18 July 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1924.432.45