id: 106387 accession number: 1924.432.42 share license status: CC0 url: https://clevelandart.org/art/1924.432.42 updated: 2022-01-04 15:00:38.393000 Mercury (from the Tarocchi, series A: Firmaments of the Universe, #42), before 1467. Master of the E-Series Tarocchi (Italian, 15th century). Engraving; The Cleveland Museum of Art, Dudley P. Allen Fund 1924.432.42 title: Mercury (from the Tarocchi, series A: Firmaments of the Universe, #42) title in original language: series: series in original language: creation date: before 1467 creation date earliest: 1457 creation date latest: 1467 current location: creditline: Dudley P. Allen Fund copyright: --- culture: Italy, Ferrara, 15th century technique: engraving department: Prints collection: PR - Engraving type: Print find spot: catalogue raisonne: Hind E.I. 42a --- CREATORS * Master of the E-Series Tarocchi (Italian, 15th century) - artist --- measurements: state of the work: edition of the work: support materials: inscriptions: inscription: Lettered below the image of Mercurio (Mercury): A / ·MERCURIO XXXXII· / [42] translation: remark: --- CURRENT EXHIBITIONS title: Italian and German Prints of the 15th Century opening date: 1933-11-29T05:00:00 Italian and German Prints of the 15th Century. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (November 29, 1933-January 3, 1934). --- LEGACY EXHIBITIONS --- PROVENANCE --- fun fact: digital 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, Mercurio (Mercury) is personified as a full-length male figure, in profile to the left, while blowing a flute. Mercury appears as Hermes, the Greek messenger of gods. In his right hand holds up a caduceus, a herald staff at the top of which are two intertwined winged snakes. He also wears a petasos and a pair of talaria, respectively winged hat and shoes. At his feet is a cock—animal sacred to him—and the decapitated full-eyed head of Argo. Mercury was believed to be both the son of Saturn and the brother of Jupiter, and the second in the order of planets. wall description: --- RELATED WORKS --- CITATIONS --- IMAGES web: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1924.432.42/1924.432.42_web.jpg print: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1924.432.42/1924.432.42_print.jpg full: https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1924.432.42/1924.432.42_full.tif