Genius of the Sun (from the Tarocchi, series B: Cosmic Principles & Virtues, #31)
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
This engraving is part of the group marked with the letter “B”, and named Cosmic Principles and the Virtues , which comprises the three Universal principles or Genii (Light, Time, and Space) alongside the four cardinal virtues (Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude and Justice) and the three theological ones (Faith, Hope, and Charity). The three allegorical figures of the Genii open group B and appear to be an artistic invention of the author of the Tarocchi series. Here, Iliaco (Genius or Spirit of the Sun) personifies the Sun which is thought to be the soul of the world. He is shown as a winged full-length male youth in profile, turned to left. Behind him is a distant forest. In his right hand, Iliaco holds up a sun-face.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionSimilar works
Genius of the World (from the Tarocchi, series B: Cosmic Principles & Virtues, #33)
Iliaco (Genius of the Sun)
Genius of Time (from the Tarocchi, series B: Cosmic Principles & Virtues, #32)
Genius of the Sun, plate 31 from Genii and Virtues
Genius of the World
The Angel of the Ninth Sphere (from the Tarocchi, series A: Firmaments of the Universe, #49)