Vieville Review and Marseille Musings

Artisan Tarot: artisantarot.com
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[@stephenmangan662]

Vieville was active c.1640s - 1664, Noblet c1643-1681*, both were members of the Guild of Parisian Cardmakers and would have known each other. Note the backs of the Vieville & Noblet are the same [as also the anonymous Paris of around the same time]. Members of the Guild possibly pooled resources to purchase materials, such as paper from the paper mills of Thiers, and pre-printed back sheets possibly came from Thiers too. The Nicolas Rolichon of Lyon has the same back too [presuming the reproduction we have of it in Larouse is an accurate record], so it wasn't limited to Paris. We have a notarized contract between the Jurors of the Guild with a paper merchant to supply paper from Thiers from the early 17th century. *Note: Up until recently we had only a couple of references to Jean Noblet from 1659 & 1664, thus you will see him described, where it is mentioned, that he was active c1659-1664. Recent research through parish records, notary documents, and a legal dispute between Noblet and the Merchants Guild has allowed us to extend his known period of activity from 1643 to 1681.. Re: the writing on the Ace of Cups roughly translates to: Holy father, render me Justice for this crazy/foolish [Mat] old man [Hermit] and maker of playing cards [Bagat]* in love [Lover] with this Lady [Fortuna - WoF] who is decried [Judgment/Trumpet] to all the World, by the Pope, the Popesse, the Emperor, the Empress, the Sun, the Moon, the Star, the Lightning, taken by Force to be Hanged & carted [Chariot] off to the Devil. Not mentioned, Death or Temperance - but Temperance has the inscription Sol Fama upon it - so only Death is unnamed. Some people think the Lady in the 'poem' is temperance [based upon the fact it shows a woman], but that doesn't make sense to me, why should Temperance, a virtue, be decried, hanged and dragged to the devil? Dame Fortuna as a figure of gaming and gambling however was often moralized and ruled against. The elisions and grammar make a definitive translation impossible, however, so take your pick. *Alternatively: this Old Man, Fool & Baga[t, or bagateur]. For context Vieville was prosecuted and had his goods confiscated several times by the administrators of the Hotel Dieu [an alternative name to Maison Dieu btw], who were in charge of regulating and taxing cardmakers. PERE SAINCT FAIT MOY YVSTICE DE CE VIELART MA E BAGA AMOVREVX DE CESTE DAME QVY SOIT CRYE A SON DE [crie a son de trompe - cried to the sound of trumpets - a legalese turn of phrase appended to legal documents, meaning to publicly announce, like a town crier - to decry or denounce]. TROMPE PAR TOVT LE MONDE DE PAR LE PAPE LA PAPESSE LANPEREVR LINPERATR YCE LE SOLEIL LA LVNE LES ETOILLES LA FOUDRE PRINS A FORCE QUY SOIT PENDV E TRANNAY [Trannay is both a noun, meaning a type of cart that is dragged, like a sled, and verb to drag, I translated it as 'carted off' rather than dragged so some sense of the connection with the Chariot is retained.] AV DYABLE.

[@francesrobinson1335]

I love that Artisan Tarot version. Especially the devil. So dynamic.

[@xDark5taRx]

I noticed some similar parallels to the Trionfi della Luna marsielle deck. The creator of TdL must have gotten some inspiration from that deck.

[@lilpinkbear]

This was a delightful way for me to start my Sunday, with a huge mug of tea and some geeking out over Marseille. 🤓 I know you said you end up reaching for the crisp recreated decks but I really love what you did with yours. It makes it feel more lived-in and magical to me. Don't get me wrong, I like pretty and perfect 'sometimes' but I will take weird and quirky over that almost any day. This Vieville is gorgeous (and some of the majors are similar to the Rare Triumphs). Also, I'm so here for your commentry on the courts, lol.

[@simonburchill5884]

Ummm... that's the 7 of Wands on the bottom row, not the 9...

[@AuntyKsTarot]

I'm waiting for MPC to ship the multi marseille, looking forward to it. This deck was fascinating and I do like the colour pallette. The faces are so weird lol.

[@thefoolsjournal]

Weird faces are my jam 🤣