About The Visconti-Sforza Tarot (Pierpont-Morgan Bergamo - circa 1451)
The Visconti-Sforza tarot is a collection of Milanese 15th-century tarot decks belonging to the Visconti and Sforza families, and one of the oldest collections of tarot decks known to exist.
The Pierpont-Morgan Bergamo deck was produced around 1451 and originally composed of 78 cards. Four of the original cards are lost, including two trumps: the Devil and the Tower. We have included blank placeholders for the missing cards. The trump and face cards have a gilt background, while the pip cards are cream coloured with a flower and vine motif.
The figures on the suit of staves wear silver and blue pleated garments and carry a staff, whilst those on the suit of cups wear gold garments and carry a chalice. The swords suit shows figures dressed in full silver armour and carrying a sword, and the coins suit shows figures wearing blue garments decorated with a gold sun motif and carrying a coin.