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The Servant (from the Tarocchi, series E: Conditions of Man, #2), before 1467. Creator
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The Servant (from the Tarocchi, series E: Conditions of Man, #2), before 1467. Creator
The Servant (from the Tarocchi, series E: Conditions of Man, #2), before 1467. While differing greatly from traditional Tarocchi or tarot cards, this set earned its misleading name because of a few, unimportant similarities. Never a game, scholars generally agree that this set was an educational tool, used to visually describe a fifteenth-century philosophical model of the universe. It was believed that the universe was a ladder-like structure that began with the beggar and rose through the ranks of man, the muses, the liberal arts, the virtues, and the planets, until it finally reached the pinnacle, the dwelling place of God. Reflecting this order, these fifty engravings were divided into five groups of ten: the Conditions of Man; Apollo and the Muses; the Liberal Arts (with three added disciplines--Poetry, Philosophy, and Theology); the Virtues (with three personifications of cosmic principles called " genii" ); and the Firmaments of the Universe. Designed, engraved, and hand-coloured in gold by anonymous artists and craftsmen, the series exists in two versions. The museums set, known as the " E" series (named for the letter in the lower left corner of the prints in the first group of ten), is believed to be the original, while the " S" series (the letter " S" was substituted for the " E" ) is considered to be an inferior copy, made within a decade of the first
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Media ID 19648892
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Engraving Hand Coloured With Gold Ferrara Master Of The E Series Tarocchi Italian
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EDITORS COMMENTS
The Servant (from the Tarocchi, series E: Conditions of Man, #2), before 1467" is a captivating print that belongs to a unique set of engravings known as the Tarocchi. Although these cards differ significantly from traditional tarot cards, they were given this misleading name due to some minor similarities. Scholars believe that this set was not intended for gaming but rather served as an educational tool to visually represent a philosophical model of the universe in the fifteenth century. The engraving depicts a servant figure within the context of "Conditions of Man" one of five thematic groups in this series. The Tarocchi aimed to illustrate an ordered structure of existence, starting with beggars and ascending through various stages such as man, muses, liberal arts, virtues, and planets until reaching God's dwelling place at its pinnacle. Crafted by anonymous artists and craftsmen who meticulously designed and engraved each piece before hand-coloring them with gold accents, these fifty prints are divided into two versions: the original "E" series and an inferior copy known as the "S" series. The former is believed to be housed in museums today while the latter was likely produced within ten years after its creation. "The Servant (from the Tarocchi)" offers viewers a glimpse into both artistic craftsmanship and philosophical thought prevalent during this period. It serves as a testament to human curiosity about our place within the grand scheme of things and invites contemplation on themes such as hierarchy, virtue, and divine transcendence.
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