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The Knight (from the Tarocchi, series E: Conditions of Man, #6), before 1467. Creator
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The Knight (from the Tarocchi, series E: Conditions of Man, #6), before 1467. Creator
The Knight (from the Tarocchi, series E: Conditions of Man, #6), 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 19648769
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Ferrara Master Of The E Series Tarocchi Italian
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The Knight (from the Tarocchi, series E: Conditions of Man, #6), before 1467. This print captures a unique glimpse into the fifteenth-century philosophical model of the universe. Although it may bear some resemblance to traditional tarot cards, this set known as 'The Knight' is far from being a game. Scholars believe that it served as an educational tool, offering visual representations of the hierarchical structure of the universe during that time. The fifty engravings in this series were meticulously designed and hand-colored in gold by anonymous artists and craftsmen. Divided into five groups, each containing ten prints, they depict various aspects such as 'Conditions of Man, ' 'Apollo and the Muses, ' 'the Liberal Arts, ' 'the Virtues, ' and finally 'the Firmaments of the Universe. ' These prints symbolize a ladder-like progression starting from humble beginnings with beggars and ascending through different ranks until reaching God's dwelling place at its pinnacle. Two versions exist: The original museum set referred to as the 'E' series due to its letter marking on each print's lower left corner; while an inferior copy called the 'S' series was created within a decade after its first release. This remarkable print allows us to appreciate not only its artistic beauty but also provides insight into how people perceived their place in society and their relationship with higher powers during this period. It serves as a testament to human curiosity and our eternal quest for knowledge.
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