Euterpe
Medium
engraving with gilding
Dimensions
sheet: 17.8 x 9.8 cm (7 x 3 7/8 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
1969.6.9
Art Historical Context
Behold *Euterpe*, a exquisite engraving from around 1465 by the anonymous Master of the E-Seriesocchi, one of the early Italian printmakers active in Ferrara during the Renaissance. This small gem (17.8 x 9.8 cm) depicts Euterpe, the Greek Muse of music and lyric poetry, gracefully rendered with flowing robes and a double flute, symbolizing harmony and inspiration. Part of a renowned series of 106 tarocchi cards—educational prints rather than playing cards—these works celebrated the liberal arts, muses, and virtues, blending classical mythology with Renaissance humanism. Crafted in engraving ...
About the Artist
Master of the E-Series Tarocchi
The Master of the E-Series Tarocchi was an anonymous Italian engraver active in Ferrara around 1465, during the vibrant era of the Este court. His early life and training remain undocumented, but stylistic affinities link him to artists collaborating with Francesco del Cossa on the frescoes of Palazzo Schifanoia's Salone dei Mesi. Working in the Ferrarese tradition, he produced the pioneering E-se...