Visconti-Sforza Tarot

The Visconti-Sforza Tarot refers to illuminated cards created in Milan around the mid-15th century, commissioned by the dukes of Milan from the Visconti and Sforza families. Several series were produced — the most famous attributed to the painter Bonifacio Bembo — and their sheets are now scattered among museums and collections: the Morgan Library in New York, the National Library of France, the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan. Originally, these cards were not intended for divination but for aristocratic court games. They constitute the earliest known examples of tarot iconography, with major figures — the Empress, the Pope, the Wheel of Fortune — found in all later tarots.

This deck does not exactly follow the standardized structure of 78 cards: several copies are incomplete, with some cards having been lost over the centuries. The major arcana represent allegories of the Renaissance — virtues, figures of power, cosmic forces — painted in tempera and gold on parchment, with exceptional refinement. The minors (wands, cups, swords, coins) follow a structure without figurative scenes. Today, faithful reproductions allow for divinatory use, guided by the rich medieval iconography and universal archetypes.

Consulting the Visconti-Sforza is reconnecting with the very source of tradition. It is suitable for individuals sensitive to art, history, and the symbolism of the Renaissance. Its images evoke a universal language of virtues, trials, and triumphs. It is ideal for contemplative readings focused on identity, values, or life path. Like any divinatory tool, it should be approached with a spirit of curiosity and personal exploration.