The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 19, 2024

Saturn (from the Tarocchi, series A: Firmaments of the Universe, #47)

Saturn (from the Tarocchi, series A: Firmaments of the Universe, #47)

before 1467
(Italian, 15th century)
Italy, Ferrara, 15th century
engraving
Dudley P. Allen Fund 1924.432.47
Catalogue raisonné: Hind E.I. 47a
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, Saturno (Saturn) is personified as a full-length old male figure, turned to left. He rests on his sickle, at the top of which is a serpent biting its own tail. Saturn is about to devour one of his children, whilst the other four are seated at his feet.
  • {{cite web|title=Saturn (from the Tarocchi, series A: Firmaments of the Universe, #47)|url=false|author=Master of the E-Series Tarocchi|year=before 1467|access-date=19 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1924.432.47