firemaiden
In our discussions about the earliest date of playing cards, Namadev gave a link to a (francophonic) lycos Tarot history site:Tarot de Marseille
On this site is an article Rabelais and Tarot, which shows some fantastic caricatures of tarot cards from a funny book written in 1565 called " Les Songes drolatiques de Pantagruel --- "The funny dreams of Pantagurel".
It is the work of François Desprez, illustrator. The full title is
The entire book may be viewed on line: Les Songes Drolatiques
There you can see full size versions of those illustrations, plus many many more that might prove relatable to the tarot with a little (or a lot) of imagination.
The Lycos article also points out that Rabelais's works are considered by some to be hermetic texts full of alchemical references, that the tarot game (spelled tarau) is mentioned in the 22nd chapter of the book, (significant number to tarotists).
On this site is an article Rabelais and Tarot, which shows some fantastic caricatures of tarot cards from a funny book written in 1565 called " Les Songes drolatiques de Pantagruel --- "The funny dreams of Pantagurel".
It is the work of François Desprez, illustrator. The full title is
- "les Songes Drolatiques de Pantagruel où sont contenues plusieurs figures de l’invention de maistre François Rabelais : & derniere oeuvre d’iceluy, pour la recreation des bons esprits"
- The funny dreams of Pantagruel containing many figures invented by Master Rabelais and his last work, for the enjoyment of people of good humour (and wit)
The entire book may be viewed on line: Les Songes Drolatiques
There you can see full size versions of those illustrations, plus many many more that might prove relatable to the tarot with a little (or a lot) of imagination.
The Lycos article also points out that Rabelais's works are considered by some to be hermetic texts full of alchemical references, that the tarot game (spelled tarau) is mentioned in the 22nd chapter of the book, (significant number to tarotists).