Tarot in Art | Queen of Pentacles | Visconti

Published by Alison Cross on

“Here, you take it, my arm’s getting tired!”

On my frequent forays into the dusty art vaults at Tarot Thrones to bring you something lovely to see, I found this gem tacked on the floor behind the door behind an ancient pile of Radio Times magazines.

This is the Queen of Pentacles, or ‘Reine de Deniers’ to give her her sale title, who was sold at Christies in Paris back in 2005.

It is attributed to The Master of the Visconti Tarot (mid 15th century) and is gouache on board, with gilded highlights.

Seated in front of a draped blue banner, we meet the red robed Queen.  She wears a golden crown to denote her rank and is depicted with her Coin held aloft in her right hand. Although she looks a bit pregnant, I suspect that is just the fashion of the frock.

Just off to the left of the card we an see another figure who is either handing the Queen her Coin or receiving it from her.

It’s a beautiful little image that measures 168mm x 63mm

The card was estimated to sell at $33,549-$46,968

It actually sold for $376, 817!

Am I the only woman who wishes that Empire line frocks would come back into fashion so that we too can sit and let our tummies relax like the Queen of Pentacles.

Also crowns.  I would like a crown……


Alison Cross

The Tarot's Court Cards are my specialist area.Β  They talk to me. Not LITERALLY though ....

10 Comments

Beth Maiden · 17th October 2014 at 8:56 pm

Yowzer!

Please tell me you threw out the old Radio Timeses.

    Alison Cross · 22nd October 2014 at 5:59 pm

    I will be selling them on ebay, Beth πŸ˜€ One man's basement hoarding is another hipster's ironic TV table πŸ˜€

Inner Whispers · 6th October 2014 at 6:52 am

Oh, that must have been a bit of a comedown for the seller – only about 1% of what they expected! Dunno about the dress – depending on the fabric, I've always found empire line frocks extremely unflattering πŸ™

    Alison Cross · 6th October 2014 at 10:22 am

    I think that a fit person with a nice waist, such as you have yourself, wouldn't be looking to wear this outline, but for those of us who like to let our tummy pooch out, it would be a godsend πŸ˜€

    I though that the deck sold for TEN TIMES what the sellers were looking for it? But then it took me two years to successfully get my Higher Maths lol!

Bonnie Cehovet · 4th October 2014 at 11:13 am

Beautiful card … I love gilded anything! πŸ˜‰ I too wish this dress fashion would come back into style.

    Alison Cross · 6th October 2014 at 10:23 am

    Yeah, we can let our tummies hang out, together πŸ˜€

Las Magas · 3rd October 2014 at 9:27 pm

Hi Alison! It's so beautiful! You are not the only one πŸ™‚ Sometimes I think I probably had lived in that age in any past life πŸ˜€ because all related with kings, queens, kingdoms and royalty attracts me so much πŸ™‚ Thanks for sharing! Happy weekend con Muchas Estrellas for you!

    Alison Cross · 6th October 2014 at 10:24 am

    I like any kind of clothes that don't show off my wobbly bits! I don't think that I'd like to have lived back in the Renaissance because, with my luck, I would have been a peasant, not royalty lol! πŸ˜€

Joanne Sprott · 3rd October 2014 at 2:43 pm

You Queen of Wands, you! And yes, I love those medieval robe styles. Ah, the old days…really need to pick up a copy of the Visconti deck somewhere. Hopefully the reproduced deck is not so pricey, eh?

    Alison Cross · 6th October 2014 at 10:25 am

    I think I might have bought one the other night whilst surfing with a wine in one hand and the mouse in the other. I definitely bought SOMETHING. I'll tell you when it arrives lol!

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