Tyldwick - Lovers

BodhiSeed

What I notice in the Lovers card:

a painting of the Fountain of Diana
a bust of Venus/Aphrodite
two small frames of two different women
table with drawers

The painting in the background comes from a sculpture that originally topped a fountain that shows Diana reclining with a stag (that now is in the Louvre). What an interesting piece to use in the Lovers! Diana was a virgin goddess, and she required the same commitment from those who served her. Once a man stumbled upon her bathing, and Diana turned him into a stag; his own hunting dogs killed him. She is the force that persuades a person to make a choice to stay "pure" and focused on one's calling rather than entangle oneself in the web of love.

Below the painting is a bust of Venus, the goddess of love - definitely the opposite of Diana! She would encourage one to dive wholeheartedly into a relationship, and enjoy the perks of having a lover or spouse.

On either side of the bust is a framed portrait, each with a different woman. If you choose the way of Venus, then you also have to make the choice of which person to whom you will commit yourself.

The table on which the pictures and bust rest has two drawers. Like Monty Hall's "Let's Make a Deal," you never know exactly what you're going to get when you make a decision (drawer number one or drawer number two). The commitment you make could bring a lot of joy or much grief.
 

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Elendil

What I notice in the Lovers card:

The painting in the background comes from a sculpture that originally topped a fountain that shows Diana reclining with a stag (that now is in the Louvre).

I am glad that you have cleared this up for me BodhiSeed. I looked and looked and decided that it was a painting of Titania and Bottom from A Midsummer Night's Dream when Oberon has Puck give her a potion which makes her fall in love with the first thing that she sees - which just so happens to be Bottom who has (thanks again to Oberon's magic) been given the head of an ass. It sort of seemed to fit with the theme of 'blind love', 'glamour' even jealousy when one is chosen above and over another....but I was obviously wrong....
 

rachelcat

And I thought it was Europa being carried away by Zeus disguised as a bull! (Desire, etc.) So it's definitely true that we can all bring our own ideas to the cards! (But having the RIGHT idea is nice!)
 

BodhiSeed

You're welcome Elendil and Rachelcat. :) It sure sent me on a wild goose chase trying to track it down. There are plenty of other sculptures that I haven't been able to determine, so if you see anything I don't have (or something I've misidentified) PLEASE add it to the appropriate thread!