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Grammatica

Engraving
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 woman, representing Grammar, assisting children with the alphabet.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Grammatica (assigned by artist)
  • Septem Liberales Artes (series title)
Materials and techniques
Etching on paper
Brief description
Francis Cleyn, 'Grammatica'. 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 woman helping two children with reading, with children and books in the background.
Dimensions
  • Cut to height: 12.5cm
  • Cut to width: 10.4cm
Marks and inscriptions
Lettered in the upper right of the plate: 'GRAMMATICA'
Gallery label
EIGHT PRINTS: THE SEVEN LIBERAL ARTS English, 1645 Etchings by Francis Clein (1582-1658), published in London 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 goups: the trivium (Grammar, Logic or Dialectics and Rhetoric) and quadrivium (Geometry, Arithmetic, Astronomy and Music). This representation of them as young women and their idenitfying attributes matches the conventional description made as early as the fifth century by the grammarian Martianus Capellus. E. 1273-80 - 1936 (Given by Mr. Arthur Lewis)[sic, Laws]
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 woman, representing Grammar, assisting children with the alphabet.
Associated objects
Bibliographic references
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design and Department of Paintings, Accessions 1936, London: Board of Education, 1937.
  • D. Guilmard, Les Maîtres Ornemanistes, Paris, 1880-81, p.398, no. 43
Collection
Accession number
E.1279-1936

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Record createdJuly 18, 2005
Record URL
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