Journey Through the Trump Cards

Announcing the completion of “Journey Through the Trumps,” a section of this website that traces the 600-year history of each trump card. During this three-year adventure with my co-author Iolon, we looked at how the imagery of each card evolved through the centuries, and how these changes influenced the card’s interpretation.

We began each article with a thorough investigation of the first Italian cards, examining how their imagery was embedded in late medieval art and culture. We followed tarot to France where we looked at how certain cards in the Tarot de Marseille were a continuation of their Italian predecessors, and how some were a radical departure from the past. Since French and British occultists were the first to speak publicly about card interpretations, we explored how their ideas shifted tarot’s imagery. Occult influence on tarot culminated with the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and the Waite Smith Tarot, so we paid special attention to the symbolism of Waite’s major arcana. We conclude each article with a few examples of contemporary cards that take a radically new approach.

Here’s the home page where you’ll find links to all the articles.

https://tarot-heritage.com/from-trionfi-to-majorarcana/

This introductory article will orient you to the broad outlines of tarot’s development.

https://tarot-heritage.com/from-trionfi-to-majorarcana/turning-points-in-tarot-history/

Iolon’s website is illustrated with an enormous number of tarot cards, along with related medieval and renaissance art. His website provided the basis for the Journey Through the Trumps.

https://www.tarotwheel.net/history/the%20individual%20trump%20cards/

We hope these articles will enhance your appreciation of Tarot’s enduring legacy.

Illustration: Judgment card from Tarocco Bolognese Al Mondo, 16^th century. Restored by Marco Benedetti, Rome, 2020.