A journey through the history of the Strength card

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Hello Tarot friends. I'm really happy that I can announce another new internet page, this time about the Fortitude card. I am very proud of this page that highlights and looks at the map and its subject from all sides. The article is a bit longer than for the previous cards, but this card is well worth it. Happy reading to anyone who takes the time to view this page, and thanks in advance for your comments. The page can be found at the following address: https://www.tarotwheel.net/history/the% ... tezza.html

Re: A journey through the history of the Strength card

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You wrote, about the Visconti-Sforza card:
Most people associate this card with a Greek myth, the first of the 12 works of Hercules, where he is killing the Nemean lion. Others prefer a biblical reference and refer to 1 Samuel 17:34-35, where the young David kills a lion to protect the sheep of his father. However, both references are probably not correct for this card. If we look in detail to the image (see the double image presented at the top of this page), we see that both the man and the lion are looking to our right side, as if a big danger is approaching from here. Man and lion are ready to affront together this danger.
That is an interesting idea. An iconographic model might then be a variation on Giotto's image, and the other figures with lions on their shields, but with the lion taken off the shield and onto the field, as its co-defender. In the same way, the column with the lady did not necessarily refer to one broken by Samson, if it was unbroken, but to the Strength required of good columns, to support a roof or even upper floors. However, in the legend Hercules did use his club against the lion, although his bare hands for killing it. (See https://www.theoi.com/Ther/LeonNemeios.html for Greek sources, which may have been known at the time, or else from Latin retellings). Even if most depictions showed him killing the lion with his bare hands, the club was a conventional attribute. (See discussion of Scheggia image later in this post.) Another interpretation, not contradictory to the preceding, is Ross's astrological one at http://www.trionfi.com/0/i/r/11.html.

I found the "17th Century Bolognese Tarocco card," the one that is based on the Tarot de Marseille design, even with the title in French, "La Force," of special interest. I would like to know more about the deck it comes from. I would think that it was a card made for export to Milan, which used such cards. I cannot imagine it being used in Bologna, it is so different from Bolognese cards of the time, which had neither title nor number on them. I am not doubting that it was made in Bologna, understand me, just that it was for use there, and to be sure you did not say it was. My reason for asking is that I have been looking for evidence that Bologna made cards for export to Milan in the mid-18th century, as Dummett and McLeod say they did; unfortunately I could not find them giving supporting evidence. I would not have guessed as early as the 17th century, another reason your attribution is of interest. Added next day: I see that you said more about this deck in relation to the Temperance and Justice cards, which gives me enough to pursue further.

About the Pesellino image of Fortitude, you said:
On her head, she has a headgear in the form of a spiderweb, indicating that she represents a virtue. Under her feet an almost naked man representing the vice of cowardice.
He is holding the jawbone of an ass. Hence he is Samson. Look at the other figures. None suggests an antitype. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... ellino.jpg

Then for "Anton Francesco della Scheggia (Giovanni di ser Giovanni Guidi, called Lo Scheggia? I know of no other, and I suspect that the identification on some sites is wrong):
The second image has been painted in 1465 by Anton Francesco della Scheggia. Here the virtue of Fortitude has a protective armor and helmet and is carrying a club in her hand. The helmet has also a decoration in the form of a spiderweb. Under her feet, an almost naked vice of cowardice, with the hide from a lion on his back.
Hercules wore the hide of the lion he slew. There is also his club. In fact, if you look closely at the image, you will see the word "Ercole" under that figure. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... roject.jpg

Some depictions of the virtues had antitypes under them, and some exemplars.

Re: A journey through the history of the Strength card

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Hello MikeH,
Thanks for your reaction. I do not claim to have the only truth on my pages, I suggest possibilities. And your reaction is a very positive contribution to this discussion. For seeing Samson below the figure representing Fortitude, I'm nor a historian neither an art specialist, I only know that most art websites present this painting as the seven virtues with the seven vices. However, your theory about antitypes plus exemplars is very interesting, and certainly in view of the word Ercole next to the sitting man that I did not remark earlier. I have difficulties to view the name that is written next to the virtue of Fortitude. If you have suggestions...

Re: A journey through the history of the Strength card

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Iolon wrote: 24 Nov 2021, 21:51 Hello MikeH,
Thanks for your reaction. I do not claim to have the only truth on my pages, I suggest possibilities. And your reaction is a very positive contribution to this discussion. For seeing Samson below the figure representing Fortitude, I'm nor a historian neither an art specialist, I only know that most art websites present this painting as the seven virtues with the seven vices. However, your theory about antitypes plus exemplars is very interesting, and certainly in view of the word Ercole next to the sitting man that I did not remark earlier. I have difficulties to view the name that is written next to the virtue of Fortitude. If you have suggestions...
It is definitely showing virtues with exemplars, not antitypes. Here is a panel from a 15th century cassoni with similar theme, and with Hercules beneath the virtue of fortitude:

https://www.artsbma.org/collection/seven-virtues/
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