Medieval Scapini Tarot Deck - Italian Renaissance and gold printing
It looks like a historical artefact, but it is a contemporary tarot deck. Luigi Scapini created a set in the 1990s that mimics the style of 15th-century Italian art, complete with the colour gradations, patterns and iconography of that era.
The result is a visually dense deck that makes you pause. Each card is a small painting full of landscapes, architecture and medieval clothing. The Major Arcana and the court cards have an extra layer: gold printing that marks the most important figures and elements.
What you see on the cards
The images are detailed down to the smallest corner. Medieval cities, decorative patterns on clothing, landscapes with hills and castles. Scapini uses the visual language of the Italian Renaissance and builds on it with esoteric symbols.
The structure is classic: 78 cards following the Rider-Waite system, but the execution is entirely his own. Scapini places Rasputin, for instance, as the Knight of Cups. That kind of anachronism gives the deck a playful undertone that sets it apart from other historical reproductions.
The gold accents on the Major Arcana and court cards stand out immediately when you flip through the deck. It is not subtle decoration, but a clear visual statement that emphasises the hierarchy within a spread.
How you work with it
This is not a deck for quick readings. The richness of detail requires time. As you look at the cards slowly, new elements emerge: a symbol in the background, a gesture, a colour that recurs.
The guidebook is in English and follows the classic meanings. Scapini explains how he translated the symbolism into his own visual language, but do not expect extensive meditations or deepening texts. It is a practical booklet that offers support.
Lay the cards under good light. The gold details and rich colours only truly come alive when you look at them up close, not from a distance.
About Luigi Scapini
Luigi Scapini is an Italian artist with a background in historical illustration. His work is characterised by meticulous attention to period-accurate details: from the way fabrics fold to the architecture in the background.
For this deck he analysed the style of 15th-century frescoes and applied it to the tarot structure. It is craftsmanship that recalls museum reproductions, but applied to a working oracle system.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78
- Card size: 70 x 120 mm
- Language: English (cards and guidebook)
- ISBN: 9780880790314
- Publisher: U.S. Games Systems Inc.
- Weight: approx. 400 grams
- Card quality: Sturdy, durable cardstock
- Special features: Gold printing on 22 Major Arcana and 16 court cards
- Artist: Luigi Scapini
Questions we often get
Is this a reproduction of a historical deck?
No. Luigi Scapini created new illustrations in the style of the 15th century. It is not a copy of an existing historical deck, but a contemporary creation that uses the visual language of that period.
Do all the cards have gold accents?
No, only the 22 Major Arcana and the 16 court cards. The 40 numbered cards of the Minor Arcana do not have gold printing.
