Tarots enluminés
The illuminated tarot cards of the 15th century continue to captivate with their exquisite craftsmanship, vibrant colors, and embossed gold backgrounds, distinguishing them as unique works that serve both as playing cards and miniature art pieces. Originating in the aristocratic and scholarly circles of Northern Italy during the 15th century, these luxury items have been preserved far better than ordinary printed tarots. Notably featuring the painted cards by Bonifacio Bembo and his workshop for the Milanese court, illuminated tarots were also commissioned by other courts such as those of Ferrara and Florence. The recent emergence of a stunning Chariot card, a previously unknown tarot trump, on the art market and its acquisition by the Playing Card Museum has challenged previous attributions. Centered around the Chariot card and its ‘sisters’—two cards from the same extraordinary set on loan from the National Museum in Warsaw—this publication showcases precious Milanese and Florentine tarots from esteemed institutions like the Louvre, the National Library of France, the Morgan Library and Museum in New York, and museums in Sicily. These illuminated tarots provide essential details for understanding Italian painting of the 15th century, shedding light on the historical, artistic, and intellectual context of the era, alongside Petrarch’s “Triumphs,” birthing trays, and illustrated books.