Gilded

The Gilded Tarot
Ciro Marchetti (Llewellyn Publications, 2004).

Review
Ah, the Gilded Tarot. The popular forerunner of the current generation of mainstream CGI decks.

There's a preoccupation with astrological symbols throughout the deck- rather than having them in the corner of every card the artist looks specifically for circles and rings they can be added in to.

The other preoccupation is with human forms, especially well-toned ones. Dodgy helmet notwithstanding, that's a particularly buff and human Devil just there.

Luckily, the Minors are rather better, due in part to their more painted quality. They're not at all slapdash, even compared to the spectacularly staged Majors, just approached differently. At least here there's a nodding acquaintance with the Rider-Waite, which should help readers and probably stops the cards from being too overwrought.

The standout card has to be the Nine of Cups. There's a cheerful older man raising his cup, and if you look on the rafters there's some fluffy adorable mice. For much the same reason, the Six of Swords had a wonderful frog hidden among the reeds, as well as suggesting rather than clumsily delineating the lining of the boatwoman's robe.

If you like the Majors, then the Minors won't disappoint. If the Majors make your eyes hurt, grit your teeth, because the Minors are worth your time.