Leonardo Tarot (LS)

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 27 May 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Cerulean	27 May 2003
I'm absorbing this slowly, but am gathering links and trying to identify all the majors. I haven't an online link to the Fool and Hanged Man, but - the sketches of his flying machine in the context of where he was appears in a chapter on the Milanese family of Sforza and Da Vinci. So this would be an interesting choice for the Fool. -the Hanged Man is from "Study of A Hanged Man" in 1479 of the assassin of Giuliano de Medici so it is from his time in Florence. The review from the Michele Jackson/Diane Wilkes lists in Tarot Passages has a partial list as well: High Priestess from Mona Lisa Empress from Portrait of a Woman Hermit from St. Jerome Strength from Virgin and Child with St. Anne Temperance from Annunciation All the majors have backwards writing in scripted Italian that has the name of the card that you can see in a mirror. Also, little humerous drawings or glyphs. I'll fill out the list as I go on, but right now the King of Swords is similar to Head of a Warrior, Queen of Wands is based on Lady with an Ermine--just enough difference in coloring and slight change of perspective, plus the symbol of the suit to make it different enough, but recognizeable which Leonardo image was chosen. If no one else, I think art fans might be pleased. His study sketches inspired me to take a class in bird illustration from a nearby university department in science illustration . If this is a bit disorganized at first, it's because I'm enjoying this particular tarot right now. What do others think? Are you interested or does this seem like an art theme that you want to pass on?

Cerulean	01 Jun 2003
http://www.tarotpassages.com/ Lee Bursten and Diane Wilkes have interesting reviews of this deck. What's your opinion, if you see the deck or a fan of such art themes? Mari H.

full deck	04 Jun 2003
I admire Leonardo da Vinci's work and this deck uses it in a way that is not pretentious or cute. It is a well done job (IMHO). I prefer a more artistic approach to the tarot imagery, since it only enhances my meditation. I have pre-ordered a deck through Tarot Garden for only $16.00 (US). The special pre-order is good for a limited time too so, if interested, do hurry.

darwinia	04 Jun 2003
Hi Mari, I love the deck and the subtle colours they introduced in the full deck. The prints look like tritones, very beautiful, yet they retain some of that old worldly sepia. I have this deck on pre-order from my local tarot shop, and I am greatly excited by the reviews that say it's not only beautiful but readable, something Lo Scarabeo decks are often not. I love art decks, and no one does them better than LS, they have a roster of very talented artists, but it's nice to have some depth to their purpose.

Melissa`	04 Jun 2003
I saw this deck last night for the first time. I thought it was pretty interesting. Even if I can't read with it, I'm sure I'll keep it as another collectable art deck. :) I'll have to go check out tarotgarden now for the preorder. Is there anyway to stop this tarotholism? lol Amaya

Cerulean	11 Jun 2003
If you can look at this with the google translator, it is Berti's commentary on Leonardo's work--a past article that isn't referenced in the little booklet. www.giordanoberti.it/html/articoli.htm I'm not certain what the red vermillion or sienna tones Leonardo used, but I don't think the translation of 'blood on paper' is a literal art mix...though Leonardo is experimental. I don't know about magic or alchemy, but he did have a scientific wonder and perspective that I find beautifully expressed in the majors. I like the minors to make it a complete deck and believe the work is beautiful overall. But I'm still marvelling over the majors and the backward writing motifs.

Cerulean	25 Jun 2003
Fyi.... http://www.aeclectic.net/leonardo-da-vinci/index.html Hope this give added perspective. I enjoy this tarot very much. Mari H.

firemaiden	25 Jun 2003
Wooooooooooooow! I loved those new scans, especially the Fool. Gosh, Mari, thanks for bringing this one to my attention. (or perhaps I should be berating you!) So tell me, now you've lived with it for a few weeks. Do you read with it?? Is it growing on you? Which is your favorite card?

Cerulean	25 Jun 2003
Firemaiden and others, I'm getting to know my reaction to allegorical pictures by using this deck once a week. I let the concept of one of the majors or a three-card draw sink in. So once or twice a week I dip into Leonardo searches or a historical Renaissance texts...I'm weeding out my book finds and storage as well this way. For daily draws, I've actually been working more with Picini majors through the commentary in the art exhibition paperback book and Rachel Pollack's text and the pictures in the Universal Dali book. Firemaiden, your art and humor might align with the Dali, as he pulled from classic and modern sources with vivid colors. Originally the deck was a gift to his wife, but Rachel Pollack's text actually has interesting commentary from her long experience with Waite-style and other art decks. I think I've used this Leonardo research also as an excuse to enroll or rework some languishing tarot designs and old life-drawing sketches...so I've actually got a project associated with this tarot, which might be why I'm more involved with it. Best wishes, Mari H.

The Leonardo Tarot (LS) thread was originally posted on 27 May 2003 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.