Female Knight Of Batons
Original Tarot Card
Based on the Visconti Card
3.5 x 7.5"
Watercolor, Egg Tempera, and 23k Gold Leaf on Pasteboard.
Framed
Original Tarot card handmade using historical techniques and materials. The card was handcrafted by making pasteboard from multiple layers of acid-free paper, finished with a paper wrapper, much like the inspiration piece. The design was embellished with 23k genuine gold leaf, the burnished to a high shine and tooled to create the background pattern. The figures were painted using handmade paints, and sgraffitto was used to scratch out the delicate patterns of the blue gown and green headdress, revealing the gold leaf.
 
This original handmade tarot card is based on the Female Knight of Batons card from the Visconti deck created in 15th Century Italy.
The game of Tarocchi, or Tarot, became popular in 15th Century Italy.  Wealthy patrons would have commissioned hand painted decks with elaborate painting and gilding on each of the 78 unique cards. There are only a precious few of these decks still in existence.