Lo Scarabeo Fairy Tarots and the victorian painter Richard Doyle

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 05 Dec 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Myrrha	05 Dec 2002
Although the majors, minors, and aces are in a completely different style, the pip cards seem to actually be from the work of Richard Doyle. Richard Doyle was a victorian fairy painter who frequently saw the fairies he painted. I believe he ended his life in an institution. Doyle died long enough ago that the work may be out of copyright but shouldn't he at least be given credit? He is not credited on Lo Scarabeo's web site and as he is not mentioned in any of the reviews I assume he is not credited in the LWB. I would love to buy this deck just for the minors but If the artist is really not credited anywhere I won't because that makes me sick. So, is there anyone who has the LWB and can tell me if Doyle is given credit? Lo Scarabeo's web site does not show any of the pip cards but a few can be seen in Diane Wilkes' review here: http://artoftarot.com/fairydw.htm On this page is an image called "The Elf's Condition" by Doyle that is used on the three of leaves in Lupatelli's tarot: http://www.fire-serpent.com/cards/shrooms.html Here is another Doyle image: http://www.mightynatural.com/books/images/fairies.jpg Myrrha

RiccardoLS	05 Dec 2002
As for my knowledge, the art for the minor had been taken by XIX century art. I didn't know the name of the artist. (so it must be Doyle) And I can confirm it is not credited on any Lwb. As for the LS website - poor thing - it is never updated, so it rarely has but basic informations. Riccardo

Myrrha	05 Dec 2002
Thank you for answering, Riccardo. It is too bad that Doyle's name is not used in the deck. It would be great if the majors were done the same way. Myrrha

RiccardoLS	06 Dec 2002
As a partial excuse, you must realize that when the fairy tarot was published Lo Scarabeo had the policy of not crediting anyone. All of the older LS deck have just the name of the artist, and not any credit to the writer or to any other that worked to build the deck. At that time, there was already the major only Fairy deck, credited to Lupatelli. Then, the deck was completed to 78, but no new credit was added. Riccardo

Myrrha	06 Dec 2002
Oh, I see! Well thanks Riccardo. I'm glad that is not Lo Scarabeo's policy anymore. It would certainly be more interesting for people who like a deck to know where the art came from, other considerations aside. Quote: Originally posted by RiccardoLS As a partial excuse, you must realize that when the fairy tarot was published Lo Scarabeo had the policy of not crediting anyone. All of the older LS deck have just the name of the artist, and not any credit to the writer or to any other that worked to build the deck. At that time, there was already the major only Fairy deck, credited to Lupatelli. Then, the deck was completed to 78, but no new credit was added. Riccardo

RiccardoLS	07 Dec 2002
I cannot garauntee that's not their policy anymore. :) That would be too much. I know that something is changing, and I think that if the Fairy deck would have been done today they would have credited it. :) Riccardo

baba-prague	07 Dec 2002
I think there may be a slight confusion between two painters here. It is Richard Dadd who died in a mental asylum. I don't know if anyone has ever used his pictures in a Tarot, but they are quite extraordinary. You can find further information here: http://www.artmagick.com/artists/dadd.aspx The Bethlem Maudsley Hospital in London still has a famous collection of this paintings. Hope this info is of interest. Karen

Myrrha	07 Dec 2002
Karen, thank you for setting me straight. It does seem to be Doyle's work in the Fairy Tarot but somehow I mixed up his bio with Richard Dadd's. That is a very interesting site, thanks! Myrrha Quote: Originally posted by baba-prague I think there may be a slight confusion between two painters here. It is Richard Dadd who died in a mental asylum. I don't know if anyone has ever used his pictures in a Tarot, but they are quite extraordinary. You can find further information here: http://www.artmagick.com/artists/dadd.aspx The Bethlem Maudsley Hospital in London still has a famous collection of this paintings. Hope this info is of interest. Karen

Cerulean	02 Feb 2004
Sketchbook with Doyle work: http://www.adh.bton.ac.uk/schoolofdesign/MA.COURSE/01/LIADoyle.html A little more Doyle: http://www.iupui.edu/~engwft/doyle.htm The third link has Dadd mentioned first, then Doyle's painting...very beautiful detail http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/18520

firemaiden	02 Feb 2004
On another thread devoted to the lupatelli fairies deck I've posted links to most of the paintings that are used for the minors in this deck.

Cerulean	02 Feb 2004
That makes this deck even more fun. Best wishes. Mari H.

firemaiden	02 Feb 2004
(Partial) list of paintings used, by card: (some paintings have more than one title, as work was sometimes used in more than one context) Acorns (wands) Two: Elf in search of a fairy Three: Triumphal March of the Elf King Four: Fairy and Owls Five: Courtship cut short Six: Seven: The Fairy Queen's Messenger Eight: Triumphal March of the Elf King Nine: An elfin dance by night Ten: Saying "Bo!" to a Beetle Leaves (swords) Two: Climbing Three: An Elf's Condition Four: An Intruder Five: Elves Subduing a Dragonfly Six: Water Lilies and Water-fairies Seven: Poor Little Birdie Teased Eight: Asleep in the Moonlight Nine: Ten: Asleep in the Moonlight Hearts (cups) Two: Princely Suitor Three: Rehearsal in Fairyland Four: Spurned Suitor Five: Moonlight Suitor Six: Wood Elves at Play Seven: Water Lilies and Water-fairies Eight: Triumphal March of the Elf King Nine: Ten: Reposing by Night Bells (coins) Two: He finds her and this is the consequence Three: Teasing a Butterfly Four: N-N (Surprised under a mushroom) Five: Stealing Six: Flirting Seven: Butterfly Dance Eight: Triumphal March of the Elf King Nine: Fairy Child's Play Ten: Dressing the Baby Elves

Kirali	02 Feb 2004
Hello again Firemaiden! I found a new website that I don't remember seeing when we searched for these paintings. It's http://andso-on.sinfree.net/fairies-page1.htm. It has the 4 of Leaves "An Intruder" on there. Just thought you might want to check it out. 7 of Acorns "The Fairy Queen's Messenger" I'm not sure if the smaller pictures on that website have titles or not.

firemaiden	02 Feb 2004
ooo thank you Kirali, those were ones I couldn' t find. I'm updating the table with your links.

RiccardoLS	03 Feb 2004
Today I just sent out for printing the new booklet for the Fairy Tarot. It has two addictions: 1. the correspondance between Fairy suites and traditional has been added. 2. credit to Richard Doyle has been added. R.

firemaiden	06 Feb 2004
That's wonderful, Riccardo, thank you.

laura_borealis	14 May 2004
Thanks in part to this thread, I recently got the Fairy Tarots... the mini version, which tragically has a truncated LWB. I like it, especially the Doyle cards (thank you Firemaiden for your exhaustive list of source paintings!). I've yet to warm up the some of the Courts and Majors, though a few of the Majors are excellent. Anyway, I have a question or two. Wicce's review talks about a charming story in the Fairy's LWB (I assume the standard size version). Does anyone have a link to this story, online? I looked on Lo Scarbeo's site to no avail. Diane Wilke's review fills in the suit explanations that my truncated LWB is missing (and translates the Latin on the Aces, very helpful!) Is there any other information from the LWB that would be helpful or illuminating? I'm finding it a difficult deck to read, though the easiest of my collection to shuffle! :) Any help gratefully rec'vd...

RiccardoLS	14 May 2004
mail: riccardo@loscarabeo.com I'll send You a doc or pdf version of the full LWB. Best, R.

laura_borealis	14 May 2004
:D You are excellent! :D

purple_scorp	16 May 2004
Wow, cool thread. This was my first-ever Tarot deck and perhaps not the best introduction, as I found it very difficult to read without the LWB - which disappointedly was a small fold-out leaflet of about one sentence per card. Riccardo, I would love to see the full version. I am emailing your address, I hope you don't mind. Many thanks purple_scorp

The Lo Scarabeo Fairy Tarots and the victorian painter Richard Doyle thread was originally posted on 05 Dec 2002 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.