Arithmetica
Engraving
1645 (printed)
1645 (printed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This print is from a series of etchings by Francis Cleyn showing the liberal arts as female figures. The seven liberal arts were defined in late antiquity, and became the traditional curriculum of secular learning in the Middle Ages. They were divided into two groups: the trivium (grammar, logic or dialectics and rhetoric) and the quadrivium (geometry, arithmetic, astronomy and music). Representing the liberal arts as young women with their identifying attributes complements the conventional description of them by the grammarian Martianus Capellus, made as early as the fifth century.
This print shows a female figure with a board and a pencil, embodying Arithmetic. The edge of her dress is decorated with numbers.
This print shows a female figure with a board and a pencil, embodying Arithmetic. The edge of her dress is decorated with numbers.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | Etching on paper |
| Brief description | Francis Cleyn. 'Arithmetica'. Plate from a suite of 7 including title plate showing the seven liberal arts entitled 'Septem Liberales Artes'. London, England, 1645. |
| Physical description | Print showing a female figure writing numbers on a board, with two male figures sitting by a desk. Her dress is embroidered with numbers, she is barefoot and there are books on the floor |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Lettered in the upper right of the plate:
'ARITHMATICA' |
| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Given by Mr Arthur Laws |
| Object history | The seven liberal arts were defined in late antiquity, and became the traditional curriculum of secular learning in the Middle Ages. They were divided into two groups: the trivium (Grammar, Logic or Dialetics and Rhetoric) and the quadrivium (Geometry, Arithmetic, Astronomy and Music). This representation of them as young women and their identifying attributes matches the conventional description made as early as the fifth century by the grammarian Martianus Capellus. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This print is from a series of etchings by Francis Cleyn showing the liberal arts as female figures. The seven liberal arts were defined in late antiquity, and became the traditional curriculum of secular learning in the Middle Ages. They were divided into two groups: the trivium (grammar, logic or dialectics and rhetoric) and the quadrivium (geometry, arithmetic, astronomy and music). Representing the liberal arts as young women with their identifying attributes complements the conventional description of them by the grammarian Martianus Capellus, made as early as the fifth century. This print shows a female figure with a board and a pencil, embodying Arithmetic. The edge of her dress is decorated with numbers. |
| Associated objects |
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| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.1275-1936 |
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| Record created | July 18, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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