Mantegna Tarocchi
The Mantegna Tarocchi ( Italian) are 50 engravings of the 15th century, which have been handed down in various edits. Andrea Mantegna is erroneously called, according to art experts, as an engraver, also the expression Tarocchi ( Tarot = ) is not valid because it is not, despite similarities of individual motifs to a Tarot game.
The E- series is regarded as the original version, the exact time of origin is debated, being mostly 1465-1475 proposed. The place of origin is obviously Italian, mostly Ferrara is believed the engraved image titles are reproduced in Venetian dialect. The image sequence is divided into 5 groups of 10 representations:
- E (1-10): Hierarchy of mankind from the beggar to the Emperor and the Pope
- D (11-20 ): 9 Muses and Apollo
- C (21-30 ): 7 liberal arts and three basic science, philosophy, astrology and theology
- B (31-40 ): 3 genii of the light and of the cosmos and 7 virtues
- A ( 41-50 ): 7 planets and an eighth sphere, Prima and Prima Causa Mobile ( First Cause, God )
The entire group is interpreted as a ladder to heaven and as a humanistic model of the Renaissance cosmos. The E- series was followed by the so-called S- series (the letter "E" was "S" reversed), edits by German artists. Michael Wolgemut, the teacher Dürer tried in vain to make woodcuts with motifs of a book project, Albrecht Dürer himself drew an incomplete series during his stays in Italy. The Cologne Stecher Ladenspelder produced about 1550 full version. The whole series was very popular and there are a large number have previously received stitches, influences on the then very prestigious individual motifs ( virtues, septem artes liberales, etc.) that have been produced in many variants, are very likely.
Map No. 23, Rhetorica ( Rhetoric )
Map No. 36, Forteza ( bravery )
Map No. 50, Prima Causa ( First Cause )