The Visconti-Sforza Tarot represents one of the most significant surviving artifacts from the 15th century, offering a window into the origins of tarot cards and their evolution from luxury playing cards to tools of divination. This deck, originating from the powerful city-state of Milan in the 1400s, stands as the oldest complete tarot deck available today, though the original set has been fragmented over centuries. The surviving cards are currently housed across three prestigious locations: 35 cards at the Morgan Library & Museum in New York City, 26 cards at the Accademia Carrara in Bergamo, Italy, and 13 cards in the private Colleoni family collection, also in Bergamo.
The deck emerged from a period of significant political and artistic patronage in Milan, commissioned by the ruling dynasties who sought to display their wealth, power, and cultural sophistication. Unlike modern tarot decks that are primarily designed for mystical or divinatory purposes, the Visconti-Sforza deck was originally conceived as a luxurious object for playing the game of Trionfi, or "triumphs." This historical context is crucial for understanding both the deck's artistic composition and its subsequent influence on tarot traditions.
Historical Context and Commission
The Visconti-Sforza deck was commissioned during the 15th century by the ruling families of Milan, specifically by Filippo Maria Visconti, the last duke of the Visconti line, and later by his successor Francesco Sforza. Filippo Maria Visconti was known as a major patron of the arts, supporting numerous artistic endeavors that blended late Gothic detail with early Renaissance realism. His daughter, Bianca Maria Visconti, married Francesco Sforza, a mercenary who rose to nobility and took over the Duchy. This marriage represented both a political alliance and a merging of visual languages of power.
To commemorate their union and solidify their prestige, these hand-painted decks were commissioned as Trionfi. The cards served multiple purposes: they were functional playing cards, but also functioned as luxury objects and potential wedding gifts. Many historians consider this deck to be the origin of tarot cards in their recognizable form, establishing the structural framework that would become standard for future tarot decks.
The production of the deck has been attributed to Milanese court painter Bonifacio Bembo, who worked in a style that combined Gothic detail with Renaissance realism. Recent scholarship has also suggested Francesco Zavattari as a potential contributor. Some cards within the deck appear to depict actual members of the ruling families, with the Queen of Swords potentially representing Bianca Maria Visconti and the King of Cups bearing a striking resemblance to Francesco Sforza. These personalized portraits distinguished the deck from generic archetypal representations and served as visual documentation of the family's lineage and power.
Artistic Composition and Structure
The Visconti-Sforza deck contains 22 Trump cards (Major Arcana) and 56 standard playing cards (Minor Arcana), establishing the 78-card structure that would become the enduring standard for tarot decks. The deck is decorated with precious metals, including gold leaf highlights and backgrounds, which contributes to its status as a true piece of art. The cards portray scenes from the life of nobility in Milan, along with portraits of the Visconti and Sforza family members.
The artistic style reflects the transition from medieval to Renaissance aesthetics. The imagery set the standards for later tarot decks, establishing visual conventions and symbolic representations that would be adapted and modified by subsequent artists and card makers. The deck's design was likely influenced by Petrarch's "Triumphs" poem, according to librarian Moakley, connecting the visual symbolism to established literary traditions of the time.
It is important to note that no single complete Visconti-Sforza deck has survived intact. Instead, approximately 15 partial decks exist in varying states of preservation. These fragments have been assembled and studied to reconstruct the most complete representation possible of the original commission.
Symbolism and Iconography
The Visconti-Sforza deck presents distinctive symbolic choices that differ from modern tarot conventions. The Magician figure appears as a conjurer, lacking the sense of transformation associated with later versions. The High Priestess is depicted simply as an Abbess, without the esoteric symbolism that would be added in later traditions. The Pope card shows the figure alone without acolytes, representing a more direct portrayal of ecclesiastical authority. The Hermit is based on Chronos and carries an hourglass rather than the later addition of a lantern. The Strength card depicts a man beating a lion, contrasting with the later convention of a woman subduing one.
These variations demonstrate the deck's position at a formative stage in tarot development, where symbolism was still evolving and had not yet been standardized into the esoteric system that would emerge in later centuries. The cards reflect the cultural and political concerns of 15th-century Milan, with imagery that would have been immediately recognizable and meaningful to their original patrons and users.
Evolution of Interpretation
While the Visconti-Sforza deck was originally designed for gaming, its symbolism and structure laid the groundwork for later divinatory interpretations. The deck's imagery, rooted in the visual language of Renaissance nobility and classical literature, provided a rich symbolic vocabulary that subsequent generations would interpret through mystical and psychological lenses.
Modern scholarship, such as the companion book "Visconti Tarots" by G. Berti, attempts to establish factual historical context for the deck's origins and meanings. This approach contrasts with mythologized accounts of tarot's origins, instead focusing on verifiable historical details. The book also addresses the art of cartomancy, discussing how divination works, proper ethics for practitioners, and providing spreads for cartomancy and introspection. However, the brief nature of the card interpretations in this work sometimes leaves the connection between historical fact and divinatory meaning inconclusive.
The Visconti-Sforza cards continue to influence contemporary tarot design and interpretation. Their visual vocabulary remains influential more than 500 years after their creation, representing an ongoing conversation between past and present about symbolism, art, and human experience. This enduring influence demonstrates the deck's foundational role in the tarot tradition.
Contemporary Relevance
The surviving Visconti-Sforza cards are not merely historical artifacts; they serve as invitations to connect with the artistic vision and cultural world of Renaissance Milan. For contemporary tarot enthusiasts and artists, these cards offer insight into the origins of tarot's visual tradition and continue to inspire new deck designs.
The deck's transformation from a luxury playing card to a foundational element of divinatory practice illustrates the evolving relationship between art, culture, and spiritual seeking. While the original purpose was secular and political, the symbolic richness of the imagery has proven adaptable to mystical interpretations across centuries.
The Visconti-Sforza deck reminds us that tarot began as something quite different from its current form. Yet in their beauty, craftsmanship, and enduring visual power, these cards continue to speak to timeless aspects of human nature. They invite reflection on relationships with art, history, and the symbols that help make sense of inner and outer worlds.
Conclusion
The Visconti-Sforza Tarot stands as a testament to the origins of tarot cards in 15th-century Milan, emerging from the intersection of political power, artistic patronage, and cultural display. Commissioned by the Visconti and Sforza families, this luxury deck established the structural framework of 78 cards that persists to this day. While originally designed for gaming rather than divination, its rich symbolism and distinctive iconography provided the foundation for later esoteric interpretations. The fragmented but preserved cards, housed in museums and private collections, continue to influence contemporary tarot design and serve as a bridge between historical tradition and modern spiritual practice. Understanding the Visconti-Sforza deck's origins and composition offers valuable insight into the evolution of tarot from aristocratic pastime to mystical tool, demonstrating how cultural artifacts can transform in meaning while retaining their essential visual and symbolic power.