This is a medieval image showing a woman lifting her lover up to her in a basket. The wheel she is spinning brings to mind the Wheel of Fortune. The lady herself is in a tower, which naturally reminds me of The Tower card.

Here is a 15th century work by Daniel Hopfer of Lovers. They stand under a ripe fruit tree, while the birds in the sky and the couple in the backgound further reinforce the idea of union.

This is a Persian 17th century work attributed to the Shah Abbasi.

Finally, a lovely 15th century German painting of a couple.

"Mrs Courtney threw the Tarot cards on the fire. It was a bitter gesture, as if she were burning heretics. The cards seemed to writhe . . . the hanged man and all those frightful figures." —Anne Redmon, Emily Stone, 1974

Dolce & Gabbana have released several fragrances inspired by Major Arcana cards: Le Bateleur, L'Imperatrice, L'Amoreux, La Lune, and La Roue de la Fortune. In this brief interview they discuss the inspiration for their latest creations.

"Like a tarot card emptied of its neighbours, like words we cannot use again" —Roger Connah, "Temperance," Welcome to the Hotel Architecture, 1998

(Image via queercatkitten)

"The Queen! The book seemed to be empty of women except for her, as though she drew all the feminine to herself, one woman in the realm but what a woman." -- John Crowley, Ægypt

[Coronation portrait of Elizabeth I. Artist unknown.]

Robert M. Place's Vampire Tarot, based on Bram Stoker's Dracula, is now available. Tom Blunt of Arcanalogue has done a nice interview about the deck. The deck can be ordered at Robert's website.

This is a 16th century woodcut by Silvestre de Paris of the nobleman Marten van Rossem. I think he makes a dashing Knight of Wands.

The Queen of Swords.

Some additions to the Heraldic Tarot. Above, The Tower.

The Page of Wands.

The Pope.

We couldn't find a heraldic Tarot online, so we challenged ourselves to put one together. Here's a link to a free three-card reading (Majors-only).