jmd
As I'm sure as occured for many of us, we come across a variety of imagery from the period of tarot's emergence, and then some get more or less half forgotten.
For myself, this was certainly the case with the following, held in the Queensland Art Gallery - not that far from Aeclectic's home, actually!
It is described as:
From a tarot perspective, what is interesting are a number of features, including the representation of St James (who 'figures' as pilgrim and thus Fou with dog - even if the dog is otherwise occupied hereon); the Pope; the table and person behind it as per a kind of Bateleur; the 'Empress' and other key feminine figure - in tarot perhaps as papess; and in the background the Tower.
I am not actually suggesting that those figures in tarot that have come down to us are totally equivalent as the ones here presented, rather am simply bringing to our attention one amongst numerous composite images that would have, in some manner or other, been prevalent during the period, and would have in some manner influenced the way in which those images depicted on cards would have been seen.
A 'key' here is that one can easily identify the furtherest three adult figures because of their symbolic representations: Mary with Child; St Peter or at least his 'descendent' representative; St James due to the shell and staff.
What I find personally confusing is that the younger figure is described as St Katherine, who is normally depicted with (sword) and Wheel (which I fail to see), yet here is the Tower behind her, normally associated with St Barbara... and suspect that (unless there is a wheel there somewhere) she would have been associated 'instantly' with St Barbara by the earlier viewer.
This image is here included more as an item of interest, rather than specifically historical research as such.
For myself, this was certainly the case with the following, held in the Queensland Art Gallery - not that far from Aeclectic's home, actually!
It is described as:
The Master of Frankfurt - Virgin and Child with Saint James the Pilgrim, Saint Catherine and the Donor with Saint Peter - c. 1496
The online description is here, and an examination of the panel revealing alterations (pentimenti) as to details is here.
From a tarot perspective, what is interesting are a number of features, including the representation of St James (who 'figures' as pilgrim and thus Fou with dog - even if the dog is otherwise occupied hereon); the Pope; the table and person behind it as per a kind of Bateleur; the 'Empress' and other key feminine figure - in tarot perhaps as papess; and in the background the Tower.
I am not actually suggesting that those figures in tarot that have come down to us are totally equivalent as the ones here presented, rather am simply bringing to our attention one amongst numerous composite images that would have, in some manner or other, been prevalent during the period, and would have in some manner influenced the way in which those images depicted on cards would have been seen.
A 'key' here is that one can easily identify the furtherest three adult figures because of their symbolic representations: Mary with Child; St Peter or at least his 'descendent' representative; St James due to the shell and staff.
What I find personally confusing is that the younger figure is described as St Katherine, who is normally depicted with (sword) and Wheel (which I fail to see), yet here is the Tower behind her, normally associated with St Barbara... and suspect that (unless there is a wheel there somewhere) she would have been associated 'instantly' with St Barbara by the earlier viewer.
This image is here included more as an item of interest, rather than specifically historical research as such.
), this image located at the 