DISCOVERART

Master of the E-Series Tarocchi

Mars, plate 45 from Planets and Spheres

c. 1465
Engraving on paper
18.5 × 10.5 cm (7.3 × 4.1 in)

SEE IT IN PERSON

Not currently on view

In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

View at artic.edu ↗Plan a visit ↗

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

The deck of fifty so-called Tarocchi are not tarots in the modern, fortune-telling sense, nor were they intended as playing cards. No cut-out impressions mounted for play are known, and they lack the suits and numbers of a regular deck. Instead, these delicately engraved didactic allegories are grouped in five numbered ranks describing the workings of the spheres of man, the muses, the liberal arts, the cosmos, and the heavens in order of increasing significance, and offer a didactic sequence to educate courtly youths or possibly university students, who could have used them as flashcards or a pamphlet.

Source ↗

Be the first to share your thoughts.

Sign in to join the discussion.

Community guidelines

More by Master of the E-Series Tarocchi

Music, plate 26 from Arts and SciencesMusic, plate 26 from Arts and SciencesArithmeticArithmeticGentleman (from the Tarocchi series E: Conditions of Man, #5)Gentleman (from the Tarocchi series E: Conditions of Man, #5Calliope (from the Tarocchi series D: Apollo and the Muses, #11)Calliope (from the Tarocchi series D: Apollo and the Muses,The Merchant, plate four from The Ranks and Conditions of MenThe Merchant, plate four from The Ranks and Conditions of MeJustice, plate 37 from Genii and VirtuesJustice, plate 37 from Genii and VirtuesPhilosophy, plate 28 from Arts and SciencesPhilosophy, plate 28 from Arts and SciencesGenius of the World (from the Tarocchi, series B: Cosmic Principles & Virtues, #33)Genius of the World (from the Tarocchi, series B: Cosmic Pri

More like this

Mars (from the Tarocchi, series A: Firmaments of the Universe, #45)Master of the E-Series Tarocchi (Italian, active 1460s) — MaThe Young SiegfriedJulius Hübner — The Young SiegfriedStanding Male Figure Holding a Sword (King Otto of Hungary; recto); Sketch of Standing Male Figure (verso).Cigoli (Ludovico Cardi) — Standing Male Figure Holding a SwoMonument of Eudo de ArsicAnonymous, 18th century — Monument of Eudo de ArsicThe King (from the Tarocchi, series E: Conditions of Man, #8)Master of the E-Series Tarocchi (Italian, active 1460s) — ThTomb Effigies: A Man in a Suit of Armor beside a ChildEugène Delacroix — Tomb Effigies: A Man in a Suit of Armor bPortrait of a Nobleman in ArmorPieter Claesz. Soutman — Portrait of a Nobleman in ArmorA Swiss Foot SoldierNiklaus Manuel Deutsch — A Swiss Foot SoldierStudy for a Stained Glass WindowJohn La Farge — Study for a Stained Glass WindowStanding WarriorStyle of Nicolas Poussin — Standing WarriorThe Knight (from the Tarocchi, series E: Conditions of Man, #6)Master of the E-Series Tarocchi (Italian, active 1460s) — ThAn Officer Holding a Ceremonial SwordSchool of Rembrandt van Rijn — An Officer Holding a Ceremoni