Ross G. R. Caldwell wrote:Don't forget the Chariot discovered in the late 80s and now in the Musée Français de la Carte à Jouer in Issy-les-Moulineaux (referred to as the "Issy Chariot") -
http://www.issy.com/musee/ct3.htm
Thierry Depaulis identified this card as belonging with the Warsaw museum cards (Kaplan I, 109), and dates to about 1450, Ferrara.
It is much less overtly "mythological", unless the two different colored horses represent that they have different "natures".
There is a canopy over her head. It's tempting to consider it a "marriage" chariot, with all the symbolism that implies (after love, comes marriage, hence chastity/modesty, good qualities in a wife). For what it's worth, Bianca Maria was married in red, "her zodiacal color" (as noted by Pizzagalli - BM was an Aries. Leonello is also noted as considering the color of the planet for the day of the week in choosing his clothing, so symbolism like this might really be present). I don't know if this is Bianca Maria, but the clothing is outstandingly red.
She's holding an orb and a sword, in order to say "Be nice to me or I'll cut your balls off."
It's hard to interpret the gestures of the four girls around the main figure on the chariot.
Ross
Re: The Chariot
21From this thread - fabulous! viewtopic.php?f=12&t=31
He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy...