I am delighted with this gorgeous deck created by
Ernesto Fazioli,
honoring the gifted German Renaissance artist
Albrecht Dürer
(1471-1528). Mr. Fazioli carefully curated artworks by Dürer which best suit each of the 22
Trumps (including 2 bonus art cards).
It is impressive how beautifully card images resonate with the meanings we associate with Tarot.
While I wish this deck included a LWB or leaflet describing the esoteric meanings behind each card, or additional insights by Ernesto, he did include a helpful (cheat sheet) card, in both English & Italian with the titles and dates of each artwork contained in this attractive set.
As with most decks from Italy, the Justice card is number VIII and Strength: XI. The cards have Roman numerals and are titled in Italian but should be recognizable to most Tarotists. Half are displayed on this page with the English titles included alongside the Italian, for easy reference (below). The deck is made with textured matte art stock, as is typical of these special edition, Museo dei Tarocchi productions, which adds a nice tactile look and feel.
The card backs have Dürer's 'monogram signature', designed from his initials (AD),
that is found on some of his artworks. The backs of the cards are therefore not reversible (image shared below).
The deluxe version of this deck, which is limited to only 25 sets, comes in an elaborate, book-style box with a magnetic side closure. The overly large cards: 6.3" W x 9" L (16 x 23 cm) are perhaps not practical for doing readings but designed more as a meditation or study of this incredible artist's detail work, as well as the inherent, layered symbolism that is so relatable to Tarot. This deluxe deck comes nestled comfortably in the roomy, handcrafted box, resting on a bed of straw.
The standard version (4" W x 6" L - 10 x 15 cm) comes in an elegant cardboard gift box with the cards tied with ribbon, sitting protectively on padded backing. A silver charm dangles invitingly from the ribbons tied around the cards, adding a nice touch to this gorgeous tribute deck. This edition is limited to only 50 copies.
The cover art on the boxes of both versions of this deck, displays a portion of an intriguing Dürer engraving called The Great Column (1517). This adds to the mystical ambiance of this gorgeous set but is not otherwise featured in the deck itself. The title card included in both deck versions, is signed and numbered by Ernesto Faziol. It is recognizable as one of Dürer's most famous esoteric works ~ Melencolia (1514), but likewise, is not in the actual deck, though it is a welcomed addition and in keeping with the symbolic nature of this project.
A little background on the artist: By his mid-twenties, Albrecht Dürer was a well-traveled, darling of the Renaissance . His vast body of work includes engravings, watercolors, portraits, self-portraits as well as books. He was arguably the greatest German artist of the Renaissance, and his work was admired and influential throughout Europe. He was friends or in communication with most of the major artists of the time, including Giovanni Bellini, Leonardo da Vinci, Jan Provoost and Raphael. His watercolors make him one of the earliest European landscape artists, while his woodcut prints revolutionized that medium and his style was widely studied and copied for centuries.
