Tarot Vitae - Classic symbolism redrawn in engraving style
About this deck
Tarot Vitae is built on the iconic structure of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, keeping all 78 cards faithful to the traditional scenes and symbolic vocabulary that RWS readers know well. What artist Marco Proietto brings to this familiar framework is a visual approach inspired by the Italian intaglio engraving technique: precise, detailed line work that gives every figure a physical and emotional presence that the original deck rarely achieves. The name 'Vitae' reflects the central idea of the deck: behind every tarot symbol is a living presence, one that feels, perceives, and seeks meaning. The cards are printed on superior quality card stock and come packaged in a premium tuck box alongside a 136-page guidebook.
Imagery and themes
The visual language of Tarot Vitae draws directly on the Italian intaglio tradition, producing fine, controlled line work that creates a sense of texture and weight in every illustration. Proietto pairs this precise draughtsmanship with a bold, expanded colour palette that reinforces the symbolic meaning of each card rather than simply decorating it. The figures inhabit the classic RWS landscapes and scenes but feel genuinely embodied rather than decoratively placed. The Major Arcana carry astrological and planetary associations in the guidebook, offering readers who work with astrology an additional interpretive layer. A 'Flow of Life' tarot spread included in the guidebook provides a structured starting point for readings focused on life experience and personal narrative.
The artist
Marco Proietto was born in Rome, Italy, and trained at the Liceo Artistico Ripetta before studying painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome. He further specialised in sculptural modelling and engraving techniques at the Scuola dell'Arte della Medaglia. Over the course of his career he has exhibited oil paintings, engravings, and ink illustrations, and has worked as a graphic designer in publishing. His first tarot deck, Bianco Nero Tarot, was published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. in 2018. Tarot Vitae builds directly on that foundation of engraving expertise and tarot iconography.
Practical use
Because Tarot Vitae stays so close to the classic RWS imagery, readers already familiar with that system can work with it immediately without needing to learn a new symbolic vocabulary. The detailed illustrations reward slow, attentive reading: Proietto has added subtle details to each scene that are worth examining closely. The guidebook covers keywords for upright and reversed positions, exploration of imagery and symbolism, and astrological associations for the Major Arcana. Readers with a background in astrology will find the planetary associations a useful bridge between the two systems. The included 'Flow of Life' spread gives anyone who wants a concrete structure a ready-made layout for life-focused readings.
Place the card you draw next to its equivalent in a standard RWS deck and compare: the details Proietto has added often reveal an interpretive angle you had not considered before.
Features of the Tarot Vitae
- Artist: Marco Proietto
- Publisher: U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
- ISBN: 9781646713042
- Number of cards: 78
- Guidebook: 136 pages
- Language: English
- Card size: 68.8 x 119.9 mm
- Box size: 72.9 x 124.0 mm
- Weight: approx. 454 g
- Packaging: Premium tuck box
- Available: June 2026
Expert FAQ about Tarot Vitae
How closely does Tarot Vitae follow the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition?
Tarot Vitae follows the classic RWS structure in full: all 78 cards, with the standard division between Major and Minor Arcana and the familiar scenes and symbolic details that define the tradition. Marco Proietto has not reimagined the structure but has redrawn the imagery in his intaglio-inspired style, adding expressive faces, physical detail, and a richer colour palette. Readers who know the RWS system will recognise every card immediately.
What does the 136-page guidebook cover?
The guidebook includes keywords for upright and reversed card positions, an exploration of the imagery, symbolism, and meanings of each card, astrological and planetary associations for the Major Arcana, and the 'Flow of Life' tarot spread developed specifically for this deck. It functions both as a reference for individual card meanings and as an introduction to the thematic approach Proietto has woven throughout the deck.
