Prudence, plate 35 from Genii and Virtues
Medium
Engraving on paper
Dimensions
18 × 10 cm (7 1/8 × 3 15/16 in.)
Classification
engraving
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
11474
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This card, Prudence, depicts a woman draped in billowy fabric with a mirror in front of her. A cupid figure holds the mirror while standing on a pedestal. The arresting aspect of the image is the man’s face on the back of the woman’s head, which jarringly contrasts with her delicate beauty. In this case, the double face of the figure represents foresight and experience. There is also a stylized dragon at the woman’s feet, which is reminiscent of a lap dog rather than a monster, and she seems to ...
About the Artist
Master of the E-Series Tarocchi · 1460–1475
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...