Melpomene (tragedy) (from the Tarocchi series D: Apollo and the Muses, #17)
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
This engraving is part of the Tarocchi group marked with the letter “D,” and named Apollo and the Muses . In Greek mythology, the nine Muses (Calliope, Urania, Terpsichore, Erato, Polyhymnia, Thalia, Melpomene, Euterpe, and Clio) were the daughters of Zeus, king of the gods, and Mnemosyne, the Titaness of memory. The Muses were goddesses presiding over different branches of the arts and sciences. Their leader and supervisor was Apollo, the god of light, music, prophecy, and poetry. Here, Melpomene is personified as a full-length female figure, turned to left, and set in an imaginary hilly landscape. She is blowing a horn. Melpomene was regarded as the Muse of tragedy.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionSimilar works
Euterpe (music, lyric poetry) (from the Tarocchi series D: Apollo and the Muses, #18)
Melpomene, plate seventeen from Apollo and the Muses
Melpomene
Euterpe, plate eighteen from Apollo and the Muses
Erato (lyric and love poetry) (from the Tarocchi series D: Apollo and the Muses, #14)
Standing Draped Female Figure Carrying Trumpet, Flowers