Gilded
Marchetti's gilded fantasy world of magic and enchantment with intricate details.
by Ciro Marchetti · 2004
Find a copy →We link out and never sell decks. Buying through links may earn us a small commission.
The record
Welcome to the Gilded Tarot world of fantasy, magic and enchantment. Its release as a mass-produced and widely available deck has been awaited with anticipation by those of us not able to afford one of the luxurious limited edition, hand-made copies direct from the artist, Ciro Marchetti. There are few decks with artwork that Ive found quite this attractive. Ciros art is a sophisticated blend of digital paintings drawn by hand on a graphics tablet, and some pasted elements (mostly faces). The vibrancy and choice of the colours is fantastic: the backgrounds of blue skies, sunrises, night skies, twilight, stars and comets in many cards are so luminous they almost appear to glow, as do the strong, saturated blues, greens, purples and reds of the medieval-style costumes. In symbolism, the Gilded Tarot is fundamentally Rider-Waite but it is not a clone or even a re-drawing of Pamela Colman-Smiths very familiar art. Rather than simply copying, Ciro has used its imagery as a jumping off point for his imagination and inspiration. The Gilded Tarot isnt one to use for its comparative historical symbolism or occult and esoteric depth, but the card images are unique and beautiful, feeling
The cards
