Most of us who enjoy studying the long, fascinating history of Tarot are familiar with
Antoine Court de Gébelin,
an important, albeit misguided early influencer in the direction of Tarot's esoteric evolution.
Our friends at Museo dei Tarocchi, known for both, producing compelling decks by an eclectic group of artists (including themselves), as well as important historical reproductions have, in 2021 published 'Le Monde Primitif' - the 22 Major Arcana and 4 Aces from Court de Gébelin's chapter on Tarot, found in his infamous tome: The Primitive World, Analyzed and Compared to the Modern World.
The art itself seems unsophisticated perhaps, but his influence over the
popularity and direction of Tarot makes it worthwhile having in a Tarot
collection, for study and contemplation.
Court de Gébelin discussed each Major Arcana in his writing, including the Fool. He asserted that the Hanged Man should be right-side up, since he really 'depicted the virtue Prudence' (see this XII image posted below). He claimed that the Chariot pictured the Egyptian god Osiris, that Judgment actually depicted the creation of the world, and that the World card symbolized Time. He was the one to place the Fool at the front of the pack instead of where he'd resided before, (behind the Trumps). Court de Gébelin also presented rules or guidelines for working with the Tarot.
Court de Gébelin was an eccentric scholar whose concepts and pontifications are widely dismissed today. However, to his credit, he initiated the movement to view Tarot as a great source of timeless esoteric secrets and wisdom, and so perhaps, deserves the title of 'father of the modern esoteric Tarot'.
This deck published in-house by Morena Poltronieri & Ernesto Fazioli of Museo dei Tarocchi, in February 2021, comes in a sturdy cardboard box with the Fool card fastened on top, brandished with the museum's hot wax seal. The cards are printed on textured, matte art stock and the titles are written in French and have traditional Roman numerals. Justice is the 8th card and Strength (La Force) the 11th. Cards VIII, XI, XII and XIIII symbolize the 'Four Virtues'. VIII: Justice, XI: Fortitude (Strength), XIIII: Temperance, and XII Prudence (Hanged Man). The set includes a double-sided leaflet (in English for international customers, or Italian) which shares a brief introduction on Court de Gébelin and includes keywords, associations and meanings attributed to the 26 enclosed cards (which had been shared by Court de Gébelin). The back of the card (shown on this page) is simple but striking, with Court de Gébelin's signature centered in the middle of an otherwise blank space. The card backs are therefore not reversible.
A Short Overview of Antoine Court Gébelin
Court de Gébelin was born in Switzerland around 1719 and eventually became an ordained pastor (like his father before him). When he moved to France he remained a Protestant and was also initiated into Freemasonry at the Parisian lodge 'Les Amis Réunis', in 1771. He later transferred to the 'Les Neuf Sœurs' lodge, where he welcomed Benjamin Franklin as a lodge-brother. Court de Gébelin was also a loyal supporter of American Independence during the revolution.
It was his unfounded and since then disregarded perception, that the Tarot cards held the secrets of the ancient Egyptians. Court de Gébelin developed a reconstruction of Tarot history, without sharing any historical evidence, which included that Egyptian priests had distilled the ancient Book of Thoth into these symbolic images. And that they were then brought to Rome, where they were secretly revealed to the popes, who later brought them to Avignon during the 14th century and so, were introduced to France. Avignon was the city Popes fled when escaping the corruption of Rome during the 14th century. Avignon was part of the Holy Roman Empire but later became part of France. So this may be why Court Gébelin arrived at this fanciful conclusion. He also claimed that the four suits represented the four main social groups: Batons/Wands were related to farming and agriculture, the Cups to the clergy or priesthood, the Swords represented nobility and the military and lastly, that the Coins/Pentacles symbolized the merchant class.
Antoine Court Gébelin was a passionate scholar whose concepts and pontifications are widely dismissed today. But his influence and the attention and popularity of the Tarot which he amplified in certain circles is irrefutable. It is useful to have this historical deck in a Tarot collection, if only due to it's unique and important contributions.
