Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (1475–1564),
best known simply as Michelangelo, has long been regarded as the greatest artist of the Italian Renaissance, while having a tremendous influence on artists
and scholars ever since. There wasn't much he couldn't accomplish as a gifted painter, sculptor, architect and poet. Some of his most well known masterpieces, are of course his sculptures of
the mythical David, Moses, the Pietà of the Vatican, and of course the cycle of frescoes in the Sistine Chapel and the Dome of St. Peter's.
That said, this tarot deck is dedicated to Michelangelo's sketches, drawings and lesser known works, which were carefully curated by Morena Poltronieri to offer a refreshing glimpse of his subtle brilliance,
viewed through the lens of Tarot's Major Arcana. Two exceptions in her objective here would be the XXI - World card, which was taken from his infamous painting of the Sistine Chapel. And the
other is the portrait in the
I - Magician/Mago card
which is a tender image of wise ol' Michelangelo, drawn by
Daniele da Volterra
- a
dear friend to the great master. Both cards are shown below.
In the sparse but helpful leaflet, each card description shares the location of the artwork along with with a few words by Michelangelo himself,
taken from his book
Le Rime.
The English translation of this text is rather literal and therefore may not convey the inherent poetic Italian rhythms and nuances alas, but it is nevertheless a
somewhat useful reference.
Images from the Visconti Sforza Tarot Major Arcana
were included in each of the Michelangelo Tarot Tribute cards, in order to 'create a deeper synergy',
according to Morena Poltronieri, of 'art within art', in order to both celebrate the work of this brilliant artist, together with the most important Italian tarot deck in history,
which of course was also created during the Italian Renaissance.
Morena Poltronieri
did a nice job choosing drawings and sketches of
Michelangelo which suit the 22 Trumps, and then collaging in aspects of
the matching Visconti Sforza cards, while
framing
these compositions, and leaving a surrounding cream border.
Here are a few examples of card descriptions from this deck's leaflet, with the corresponding images displayed below. The quoted text is from Michelangelo's
book
Le Rime.
I Magician (Mago):
“Protect my departed painting”
Michelangelo - Drawing by Daniele da Volterra (1509 ca.-1566), Teylers Museum, Netherlands.
III Empress (Imperatrice):
“So much of her essence promises a sympathetic and beautiful woman”
Cleopatra (1535 ca.), Buonarroti Home, Florence.
VIII Justice (Giustizia):
“What guilt does justice serve?”
The Punishment of Tityus (1532), Windsor Castle, Royal Library, London.
XVIIII Sun (Sole):
“Burning sun in the cold ice like fire”
Aurora, study for the tomb of Lorenzo de 'Medici, New Sacristy, Basilica of San Lorenzo, Florence.
XX Judgment (Giudizio):
“Love, as a living and wise virtue, awakens the soul and is a most worthy cure”
Dream (1535-1536), Courtauld Institute, London.
More details about Michelangelo Tarot Tribute:
As with most Italian decks, the Justice card is number VIII and Strength is XI. The backs of the cards have a miniature drawing by Michelangelo and are therefore not reversible (shared below).
The deluxe version,
which is limited to 100 signed, number sets, comes in a sleek, black folder with pockets for these large cards (6.5" W x 9" L - 16.5 x 23 cm) and also for a business-card sized title card, signed & numbered by
Morena Poltronieri. The set also includes a full size title card.
The standard deck set
comes in an elegant cardboard gift box with the cards tied in a bow, sitting protectively on padded backing.
A silver Tarot charm dangles enticingly, adding a classy touch to this sweet tribute deck.
It is also limited to 100 sets and includes a signature card, numbered and signed by
Ms. Poltronieri.
The cards have Roman numerals and are titled in Italian, though they should be recognizable to seasoned Tarotists. I've shared nearly half of them here, including their English and Italian
titles for reference below. The art stock for this deck, is typical for these special Museo dei Tarocchi productions - the slightly textured matte paper of 300 GSM adds a satisfying tactile look and feel.
This is a sensitive study of an artist whose name is often synonymous with the greatest achievements of artistry, and in it's unique way offers a gentle, meditative look at his creative process.
Michelangelo Tarot Tribute
9 of the 22 Major Arcana Shown Below:
1st Row: Standard Title Card, I-Magician (Mago), VIII Justice (Giustizia),
2nd Row: XIII-Death (Morte), XV-Devil (Diavolo), XVIIII-Sun (Sole),
3rdRow: XX Judgment (Giudizio), XXI-World (Mondo), and Card Back.
