Mitelli and Barattini: Two Generations of Tarocchino Bolognese

About 1660, Count Filippo Bentivoglio of Bologna commissioned a luxurious tarocchino deck from artist and copper engraver Giuseppe Mitelli. Over 140 years later, in 1803, his descendent, Count Luigi Bentivoglio, hired engraver Francesco Barattini to create a faithful copy of his ancestor’s deck in wood block. This is unique in tarot history: two generations of the same family commissioning two versions of the same tarot deck. We are privileged to have reproductions of both the Mitelli and Barattini decks by the same card maker, Marco Benedetti of Rome. Let’s take a close look at Barattini’s deck and how it differs from the original Mitelli.

Above are the two decks produced by Benedetti. The 1660 Mitelli has yellow rivoltini borders, while the 1803 Barattini is in mirror image. An artist redrew the Barattini images, making them a bit smaller than the original, and not realizing, or caring, that they were supposed draw them in mirror image so the figures would face the right way when the images were transferred to the wood blocks.

The Strength card from both decks illustrates the difference between copper engraving and wood block printing. The wood carved lines and hatch marks are heavier and more obvious, giving the Barattini cards a rough, more down-to-earth look.

The Trumps

The trumps are arranged in the typical Bolognese order that differs from the Tarot de Marseille ranking. The three Virtues are grouped after the Chariot and numbered 7, 8, and 9, which changes the numbering for the rest of the series. Love is the sixth card in the sequence after the Bagatto and the four Moors, but is numbered 5 so Death will still be in thirteenth place. Omitting numbers from the lowest and highest trumps is a Bolognese tradition, so numbering stops with 16, the Star. Numbers first appeared on the cards sometime in the eighteenth century, so the earlier Mitelli deck has no numbers on the trumps.

In traditional Bolognese tarot, trumps II through V, (Popess, Empress, Emperor and Pope) were replaced by the Four Papi, four popes. In Mitelli’s deck they were rendered as two popes and two emperors, one of each standing or sitting.

In 1725, a Church official objected to seeing Popes in a card game and ordered the four papi to be replaced by Moors. Luigi Bentivoglio altered his ancestor’ s deck and substituted four Moors to comply with this rule which had been in force for seventy-five years. Shown here is a standing Emperor and seated Pope along with two of Barattini’s Moors. (For details on the Pope/Moor controversy and how a Church functionary got into very hot water over it, see the link at the bottom for the Bolognese Al Mondo review).

The unusual Star card is often mistaken for the Hermit. The Hermit in this deck is number 11, Old Man Time on crutches, naked and with wings. The Star card depicts a man struggling with a heavy burden under a starry sky. He holds a lantern which we usually associate with the Hermit. The stick over his shoulder reminds us of the Fool, but instead of a knapsack. he has a basket full of grass or leaves that he has just gathered. A mature man walking with a lantern resembles certain alchemical emblems that depict a pilgrim on the path to enlightenment.

The Pips

Both the Mitelli and Barattini decks are traditional Tarocchino Bolognese — a shortened deck with pips two through five removed from each suit.  Benedetti has created the omitted pips for both the 1660 Mitelli and 1803 Barattini decks, for those who prefer a more familiar 78-card deck. Below are some suit cards that Barattini altered from the original Mitelli design.

The Barattini Ace of Cups substitutes text for the Bentivoglio coat of arms that appears on the Mitelli Ace. The text is a traditional warning that appears on many Italian playing cards: “Too many vices will send you to the precipice.”

The Ace of Coins retains the portrait of the original artist, Mitelli, and also names Barattini, the engraver of the newer deck. The Barattini King is inscribed with the statement that Count Luigi L. Bentivoglio ordered the deck to be engraved in 1803, so there is no doubt about when or why this deck came to be.

In this deck, as in the original Mitelli, some swords have wavy blades. The Ten of Swords was simplified by removing the shield that hangs behind the arrangement on the original Mitelli card.

Barattini simplified the Ten of Batons by removing the bird at top center. The Knight seems to be riding bare legged or wearing stockings, but in the original Mitelli card he’s wearing shoes.

Marco Benedetti’s Restoration

The only existing copy of this deck is housed in the British Museum. The paper is evenly darkened from age, with only occasional stains near the edges. Overall, the deck is in very good condition. Benedetti cleaned up and lightened the background, while retaining the original colors.

The British Museum cards were painted in watercolor by an accomplished artist, so it was probably owned by a wealthy connoisseur who took very good care of the deck and treated it like an art object, not a game. The 1660 Mitelli deck was printed and marketed commercially, in addition to being acquired by collectors who commissioned artists to hand paint the cards. The Barattini deck probably received the same treatment. Since only one copy exists, we have no idea how many copies were produced or who purchased them.

The Barattini cards are reproduced in the original size (2.25 x 4.5 inches) and printed on laid paper that has the texture of traditional Italian cards. The card back is original. The deck is housed in a sturdy telescope box with the Ace of Coins printed on the front.

Links

See more information on Benedetti’s facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Marco.C.Benedetti.Tarot

To order a deck email Benedetti.Tarot@gmail.com

My article on the original 1660 Mitelli deck: It discusses Bolognese Tarocchino, Mitelli’s career, and the original 1660 deck.
https://tarot-heritage.com/2024/01/28/i-tarocchi-del-mitelli-by-marco-benedetti/#more-4393

My review of the Bolognese Al Mondo deck with the story of how a redesigned Bolognese tarot enraged a Papal Legate and forced a Church functionary into exile.
https://tarot-heritage.com/2020/08/03/tarocco-bolognese-al-mondo/

Nova Mundi Youtube: unboxing the Barattini
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFqYu4d9-Iw