The Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg stands as a unique artifact within the world of divination, distinguished by its miniature painting style, complex creation history, and distinct visual aesthetic. Originating from the vision of Stuart Kaplan, chairman of U.S. Games Systems, Inc., in 1987, the deck was born from an encounter with the artwork of Yury Shakov. Shakov, a Russian artist renowned for his expertise in miniatures, jewelry, and intricately decorated Easter eggs, was recognized at the time as the foremost miniaturist in America despite his recent arrival in the country. Kaplan, fascinated by Shakov's distinctive Russian style, proposed the commission of a Tarot deck. Although Shakov initially hesitated, he eventually agreed, leading to the creation of a deck that would bridge traditional Tarot imagery with Russian cultural heritage.
The creation of the Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg was a laborious process requiring Shakov to acquaint himself with Tarot symbolism while developing seventy-eight original miniature paintings. Over the course of two years, Shakov produced master designs for the entire deck, personally painting the Major Arcana and the Cups suit. These were not preliminary sketches but fully realized miniatures painted to size, a testament to the painstaking work of a miniaturist who must brace their arm to work with brushes often containing only a single hair. Upon Shakov's death, the project faced a mystery; while he had finished the Major Arcana and Cups and provided preliminary sketches for the rest, the remainder of the deck was completed by an unknown Russian artist. Despite the loss of Shakov's notes and sketches, the resulting deck maintains an amazing continuity of style, though a discerning eye can detect a difference in detail and ornamentation between Shakov's work (the Trumps and Cups) and the subsequent completion of the Clubs, Swords, and Coins suits.
Visually, the Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg is immediately striking. The deck features large black borders, with images that appear small and dark, evoking the atmosphere of miniature paintings depicting Russian people and fairy tales. Although the deck is distinctly Russian, all text is presented in English. A defining characteristic is the use of an oval frame of gold filigree on the face of every card. This frame varies slightly between the Trump cards and the four suits, yet all cards share a thin solid gold outer border. The card backs display yet another variation of this gold filigree frame.
The color palette of the deck is vibrant against the black background. While Shakov's Trumps and Cups do not emphasize a specific dominant color, the other suits are coded by hue: purple is featured in the Coins (Pentacles), green in the Clubs (Wands), and red in the Swords. The deck adheres to the standard Tarot structure, comprising the Major Arcana and four suits: Clubs (Wands), Cups, Swords, and Coins (Pentacles). The Court cards follow the traditional hierarchy of Page, Knight, Queen, and King. In terms of artistic influence, Shakov drew upon several established decks, including the Tarot of Marseilles, the Classic Tarot, and the Waite deck, while integrating his own touches of Russian art, history, and folklore. The imagery largely follows the basic composition of the Waite deck but reimagined with Russian costumes and backgrounds. A notable stylistic choice is the focus on the figures within the cards, while background images remain relatively sparse, directing the viewer's attention primarily to the central subjects.
The Major Arcana of the Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg follows the traditional numbering and titling, encompassing cards such as The Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Lovers, The Chariot, Strength, The Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Justice, The Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, The Sun, Judgement, and The World. The suits are fully populated with the minor arcana, from Ace through Ten, and the four Court cards, providing a complete system for divination and reflection. The deck is laminated and printed in Belgium, ensuring durability for practical use.
The Structure and Visual Language of the Deck
The Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg is characterized by its adherence to traditional Tarot structure while employing a highly specific visual language rooted in Russian artistic traditions. The deck is divided into the Major Arcana, representing significant life themes, and the four suits of the Minor Arcana, representing everyday situations and elements.
The Major Arcana
The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards, numbered 0 through 21. They are titled as follows: * The Fool * The Magician * The High Priestess * The Empress * The Emperor * The Hierophant * The Lovers * The Chariot * Strength * The Hermit * Wheel of Fortune * Justice * The Hanged Man * Death * Temperance * The Devil * The Tower * The Star * The Moon * The Sun * Judgement * The World
The Minor Arcana Suits
The Minor Arcana is divided into four suits, each identified by a specific symbol and color coding within this deck: * Clubs (Wands): Represented by the green color palette. * Cups: Represented by a varied color palette (no single dominant color). * Swords: Represented by the red color palette. * Coins (Pentacles): Represented by the purple color palette.
Each suit contains cards from Ace to Ten, followed by the Court cards: Page, Knight, Queen, and King.
Artistic and Historical Context
The genesis of this deck is deeply intertwined with the biography of Yury Shakov. His specialization in miniatures was not merely a stylistic preference but a discipline requiring immense precision. The transition from painting Easter eggs and jewelry to creating Tarot cards involved a significant adaptation. The source material highlights that Shakov had to learn the Tarot system from scratch, a process that ran parallel to his painting of the 78 cards.
The collaboration between Kaplan and Shakov resulted in a deck that serves as a bridge between East and West. Shakov utilized the Waite deck as a primary reference for composition, yet he infused the scenes with the attire and atmosphere of Imperial Russia. This fusion creates a deck that is familiar to students of the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition yet offers a fresh perspective through its cultural lens. The deck's production by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. and its printing in Belgium speak to its quality and standing in the Tarot community.
The mystery surrounding the completion of the deck adds a layer of intrigue. The fact that an unknown artist finished the remaining suits based on Shakov's sketches means that the deck is a collaborative effort, albeit one heavily dominated by Shakov's vision for the Major Arcana and Cups. The continuity of the gold filigree border and the black background unifies the deck, masking the potential disparity between the two artists' hands. The result is a deck that is "truly beautiful," with vibrant colors standing out against the dark background, and figures that command the viewer's attention.
Conclusion
The Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg is a testament to the artistic skill of Yury Shakov and the vision of Stuart Kaplan. It represents a specific moment in Tarot history where the art of miniature painting was applied to the creation of a divinatory tool. The deck is defined by its black backgrounds, gold filigree frames, and Russian cultural motifs superimposed upon traditional Tarot imagery. While the history of its completion involves an unknown artist and lost notes, the final product is a cohesive and visually stunning deck that continues to be published and appreciated. Its structure remains faithful to the traditional Tarot system, making it accessible to readers familiar with the Waite or Marseilles traditions, while its artistic execution offers a unique experience rooted in the history and folklore of St. Petersburg.