The Pope, plate ten from The Ranks and Conditions of Men
Medium
Engraving on paper
Dimensions
Plate: 17.8 × 10 cm (7 1/16 × 3 15/16 in.); Sheet: 18.4 × 10.3 cm (7 1/4 × 4 1/16 in.)
Classification
engraving
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
11488
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Prints and Drawings department at the Art Institute of Chicago where we showcase "The Pope," plate ten from the extraordinary series *The Ranks Conditions of Men*. Created around 1465 by the anonymous of the E-Series Tar—a skilled engraver likely working in Ferrara, Italy—this small engraving (just 17.8 × 10 cm) captures the ecclesiastical pinnacle of medieval society. The pope, enthroned and adorned in papal regalia, symbolizes spiritual authority amid a hierarchy of professions, from artisans to rulers. Engraving on paper was a revolutionary technique in the 15th century, all...
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...