Tarot of the Renaissance - theatre of power and beauty on card
The Italian Renaissance brought art and spirituality together. Giorgio Trevisan translates that union into 78 tarot cards that look as though they have stepped out of a fifteenth-century fresco.
The deck follows the familiar Rider-Waite structure, but replaces the imagery with that of palaces, courtly ladies, artists and rulers. Velvet, marble and gold dominate. The cards are published by Lo Scarabeo and printed on smooth cardstock with a light gloss that gives the colours depth.
What you see on the cards
The illustrations are theatrical. Figures wear historically accurate clothing: heavy brocade cloaks, fur-trimmed robes, headdresses adorned with pearls. Backgrounds show arcades, pillars, carved columns.
The colours are warm: lots of red, gold, deep brown and ochre. Faces are serious, postures formal. This is not an intimate deck. It shows ceremony, status, ambitions larger than the individual.
Anyone familiar with Rider-Waite will recognize the structure immediately. The symbolism remains recognizable, but gets a different costume. The Fool wears a Renaissance robe instead of a medieval tunic. The High Priestess sits before a column, not in a temple.
How this deck works in practice
The images invite you to look at ambitions, ideals, public roles. Questions about personal power, reputation or long-term plans fit the tone of this deck well. It is less suited to everyday, domestic questions.
Many readers use the background details as an extra layer. A column can mean structure, an open window freedom, a closed door the opposite. Clothing tells you something about status or vulnerability.
Lay a three-card reading for a question about an ambition or a public decision. Notice what the figures wear and where they stand. That often gives more information than the standard meaning.
About Giorgio Trevisan
Giorgio Trevisan is an Italian artist with a preference for classical compositions and historical themes. His style is characterized by detailed clothing, architectural precision and warm colours that reference old masters such as Da Vinci.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78
- Size: 66 x 120 mm
- Material: Smooth cardstock with light gloss
- Language: English
- Publisher: Lo Scarabeo
- ISBN: 9788883952241
- Illustrator: Giorgio Trevisan
Questions we often get
Does this deck follow the Rider-Waite structure?
Yes. The structure and symbolism are based on the Rider-Waite system, only the imagery has been replaced with Renaissance themes. If you know Rider-Waite, you can read this deck immediately.
Is the style dark or light?
Neither dark nor light. The colours are warm and rich, the atmosphere is formal and ceremonial. It is not a cheerful deck, but not sombre either. It shows grandeur, not intimacy.
