Mantegna Tarocchi

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Engraving No. 44: Sol (the sun) from the E series

The Mantegna Tarocchi (Italian) are 50 copper engravings from the 15th century that have come down to us in various ways. According to art experts, Andrea Mantegna is incorrectly named as an engraver, and the term tarocchi (= tarot ) is also incorrect, as it is not a tarot game despite the similarities of individual motifs.

The E series is considered to be the original version, the exact time of its creation is debated, mostly 1465-1475 being suggested. The place of origin is obviously Italian, mostly Ferrara is assumed, the engraved picture titles are given in the Venetian dialect . The sequence of images is divided into 5 groups with 10 images each:

  • E (1–10): hierarchy of people from beggars to emperors and popes
  • D (11-20): 9 Muses and Apollo
  • C (21–30): 7 artes liberales and three basic sciences, philosophy, astrology and theology
  • B (31–40): 3 genii of light and cosmos and 7 virtues
  • A (41–50): 7 planets and an 8th sphere, Prima Mobile and Prima Causa ( 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 swapped for “S”), then adaptations by German artists. Michael Wolgemut , Dürer's teacher , tried in vain to create a book project with woodcuts of the motifs, Albrecht Dürer himself drew an incomplete series during his stays in Italy. The Cologne-based Stecher Ladenspelder produced a complete version around 1550. The entire series was extremely popular and a large number of early engravings have been preserved. Influences on the individual motifs that were very popular at the time (virtues, septem artes liberales etc.), which were produced in many variants, are very likely.

  • Card No. 5, Zintilomo (nobleman)

  • Card No. 23, Rhetorica (Oratory)

  • Card No. 36, Forteza (Bravery)

  • Card No. 50, Prima Causa (First Cause)

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Johann Jakob Merlo:  Ladenspelder, Johann . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 17, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1883, p. 503 f.

Web links

Commons : Mantegna Tarocchi  - collection of images, videos and audio files