I do not believe this- even for 15/16/20 /22 cards, nor do I believe that the game was an experiment in Chess Tarot.78 was a result of a period of growth and experiment….. Then those who hope to find a ‘master plan’ or a ‘grand design’ behind 22 trumps that have come down to us are necessarily doomed to failure. Quite simply there never was one. (John Berry)
For this exercise I have taken the 14 (edited for a mistake) cards of one painter in the Visconti Sforza PMB, but my scenario could well apply to what we have left of the Cary-Yale and to a certain extent the CharlesV1 cards .
There does not seem to be rules for how a game was played with these early ‘Trumping’ hand painted cards- nor were they numbered or titled.
The story starts with Borromeo family of Earls who owned the land North west of Milan and is now called 7.8.9, districts of Milan and whose centre was a municipality called Lainate. It had on it one of 16 hospitals-(the small hospital of mercy) around Milan, Saint Ambrose Monastery, Clarisse or Poor Clare Convent -a small canal for transporting goods into Milan, hamlets, communes, food storage and production, and access to Lake Como area. There are extant deeds showing feudal ownership to the Borromeo Family. When the political troubles connected to the end of the Visconti rule- the rise of the Ambrosian Republic- Vitaliano Borromeo had his rights confirmed by Francesco Sforza and he then had to take an oath of Loyalty to Sforza and all his lands became Sforza property. Before that it was Visconti property although the feudal system allowed the Borromeo’s to tax and make profit that they had Lordship over.The Fuedal alligence was to Filipo Visconti and Maria of Savoy in legal terms.
So when Sforza decides to embark on an ambitious project the benfactor was originally Borromeo (his rings can be seen on the dress of the cards we call the Emperor and Empress- who were I propose Visconti and his daughter Bianca and Saint Ambrose because of the Monastery and a Clarrise Nun because of the Convent attached to the original Hospital. So all the money that the Borromeo family made on their land was used to support this grand scheme, of which we are told the Sforza dynasty were always grateful to the Borromeos. After all He was treasurer of Milan in 1418 and Chamberlain to Visconti and his clever manipulations increased the Duchy finances.
The Ambrosian Republic issued an act called ’pro Hospitalibus et Pauperibus alogiandis’ to increase resources, control the administrations of 16 hospitals - 7 of which were run by the Church which in taking these over had clear benefit, and getting the money from the feudal Lords where the those other hospitals were. The Ambrosian Republic did not last long and so Sforza decided to form the institution called ‘Annunciata’
It had practical reasoning as well.
So we have Ospedale Maggiore Hospital started in 1456 and incorporated numerous Welfare organisations; and three years later (1459)with much pomp and ceremony Pious11 ratified the decision and instituted a special indulgence which is still to this day celebrated bi- annually.The recurrent plague epidemics, since the "great death" in 1348, deeply affected the survival balance of a city, lack of hygiene and an increasing number of poor and sick people were the mirror reflecting newly made riches and fortunes. These strata of people were newly made riches and fortunes. These strata of people were considered dangerous, not only as carriers of diseases, but also as potential underminers of the established and solid order. The social control on these troubles was possible thanks to the care that the rising classes, through a philanthropic aristocracy and a charitable clergy, devoted to organizations aimed at helping, giving assistance, healing, as well as controlling, watching, preventing.
It is called ‘Festa del perdono’ to be held on the Feast of the Annunziation 25 March.
Now perhaps you understand the sale of Indulgence - but this is what a plenary indulgence required…
At the same time there was much trouble over the poverty of Banishment and fact that when you were exiled as Dante was for example all your goods and money were confiscated. So you could be granted an Indulgence (paid for involuntarily ) and could come back into the city. Great Fundraising! It is called the Wheel of Fortune. Reason and Time. It is the biblical Good Thief or Saint Dismas- you will be allowed into heaven. At the resurrection- this is your indulgence- not that you have had your sin wiped, but that you have had your punishment wiped.it is granted to all who visit the chapel at The Ospedale Maggiore, leaving a tangible evidence of your faith.
Later it was said- This 'Feast of Forgiveness' is nothing but the Feast of Milan’s City hospital, held with the support of the Head of State, which takes place over several days, involving the most important regional and Municipal Authorities.
Next Post all about the Ca’Grande and who designed it, the fundraising in 1456 till now and the possible extension of 6 cards by new Artist.
~Lorredan