Tarot Thrones | The Court Card Blog

Tag: Christies

  • Tarot in Art | Queen of Pentacles | Visconti

    “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……

  • Tarot in Art | The Tarot Card Reader | Artist Unknown

    We find ourselves in a kitchen where a young woman stretches out on a chair as the Tarot card reader explores her fortune.  It’s funny, isn’t it? No matter how many centuries separate us, the pose for expansive day-dreaming remains unchanged!

    This particular illustration of Tarot in art is by an unknown artist (well, there is a very indistinct signature down in the right corner, apparently).  It dates back to the 1800s and was sold at Christies in New York for £1,500.

    I wonder what the Tarotist is telling her – perhaps how strong and handsome will be her husband? How happy they will be – will he bring her lots of money and fine things? Or lots of glorious children to hug and kiss?   Is that an empty bread basked lying on the floor behind her? A pot boiling un-watched on the stove? Is she neglecting her household chores in favour of a day dream?!

    And what of her card-reading friend?  They do say that one of the signs of lying is fiddling with your ears – what is she doing with that right hand as she points to the cards with her left?

    I think of Cinderella dreaming in the kitchen when I see this image, what about you?

    I can’t zoom in on any of the detail of the painting (and, of course, I am typing without my specs on – oh vanity, you are a terrible mistress!) but if YOU can, I’d love to know what else we can see in the painting?

  • The King of Cups | Art | Visconti Sforza

    From the workshop of Benifacio Benbo, 
    Il Re di Coppe, 
    Visconti Sforza Tarot
    Yeah, there’s so much of the figure missing that when I looked at this image I thought the King was actually lying in a box with only his legs sticking out.  As if he had been SLIGHTLY overusing his Cups.
    And here’s what The King of Cups looks like when he’s not lying in a box.
    The top image was sold in 2008 at the Milan auction house for Christies for a jaw-dropping 19,500 Euros.
    So the next time your other half rolls his/her eyes at your frantic late-night, wine-fuelled ebay bidding to procure YET ANOTHER tarot deck, you can point out that it’s AN INVESTMENT.
    That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!
    What’s been the most expensive Tarot deck you’ve ever purchased?