Frank Hall said:
Interesting observations and interpretations, caridwen. Actually, I meant to say that the butterfly above the king's head is enclosed or held in by the lunar shapes, as if they were hands. Like a thought concentrated and held in. So it may be with the pine in the egg-like form -- clear, straight-shooting thought held in (and being born). Like you, I see the trees as evergreens. Possibly eternal ideas. The Queen of swords has the king's butterfly at the base of her throne, also contained, with the king's lunar motif reversed above her butterfly. There are those pines, lower left. The king's backdrop tapestry is straight-lined on both sides, while the queen's throne is topped with a spiral. Is her thought more artistic, his more logical?
Yes - enclosed by the cresents or, breaking out of the Moon ie if we see The Moon as confusion - the butterfly pushes through the confusion into everlasting clarity of thought. So, if not grasped by the cresents - the throught breaks free. A transformative journey.
Also, the Queen has that cherub with wings - that could be the symbol in the King's crown. It it's a cherubim - sacred wisdom and innocence.
She has three butterflies on the side of her throne and the cresents are indeed reversed. It seems more inactive than the King. Contemplation perhaps? The King's butterfly forcefully pushes through into freedom. The Queen's butterfly is still within the confines of the thought process.
Maybe rather than more artistic her thought is more contemplative - turned in on itself rather than outward. More inward looking.
The Queen's robes are green - fertility of thought maybe. The King's robes are plain brown - thought made practical.
There seem to be four butterflies on the Kings' throne - the earth, the winds - rational thought. The Queen has three - although the cresents look like a butterfly motif... Very much a transition from one to the other - from the Queen to the King. The contemplative thought made real, made active.
However, I don't see the back of the King as tapestry - I see it as the back of his throne.