Is there a canonical non-woowoo history of the tarot?

Teheuti

Castaneda's Don Juan taught him to find his power place in his surroundings. I've worked with the idea over the years and found that it is very powerful when touring antique sites - looking for the subtle energy centers. I often will roam around a room or site feeling for the place(s) of power - where energies (art, architecture, landscape, etc.) converge in special ways. That room had it! -- a converging of the images of the Virtues that seemed to infuse the space beyond what the frescos alone could have commanded.
 

Ross G Caldwell

The Este dynasty had a talent for drama, as well as politics, for three centuries. They managed to stay out of Milan's grasp, or becoming part of the Papal States, or Venice, and often mediated among them all, for all that time. Their heritage had a cultural influence far out of proportion to their relative size, especially in the 15th century.
 

Zephyros

Thanks, that's truly remarkable, although I don't doubt that the full effect isn't conveyed in the picture. When visiting old buildings I've always been more interested in the private rooms rather than the large reception halls (which probably haven't changed much). As you said, many times the focus is placed on the person, for many reasons. This is very blatantly shown in places like the Dolmabahçe palace, a Baroque trinket build long after Baroque was out of fashion, but retaining its focus on symmetry and, of course, on the Sultan.
 

MikeH

Nobody has mentioned Depaulis's Le Tarot Revele, 2013, absolutely up to date, very few dubious points, noticeable by specialists only (i.e. Franco Pratesi). Unfortunately for some, it is in French, albeit easy French. There is a summary in English, but not worth buying the book for.