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VERSION 2.0 IN PROGRESS

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VIII - Strength
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A finely-decked knight faces us on a grey horse. He carries a gilt banner, and a black bird sits on his shoulder. A woman stands with a lion at her side, and a ram lies on the ground.

My Interpretation: What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Look within yourself and you will find the strength to survive all the trials and challenges Fate throws at you. Use your strength to enrich your own life and those around you - protect those who cannot protect themselves. Someone needs your help. This is a very powerful and positive card, and indicates great strength of character. (Reversed: Abuse of power, weakness and inability to hold true to one's convictions.)

Edit notes to self: Have added a lion to my original card, for familiarity to Rider-Waite readers.

Sources:

Base Pic: Pisanello, Italian painter (b. 1395, Pisa, d. 1455, Roma); Saint George and the Princess of Trebizond 1436-38 Fresco Pellegrini Chapel, Sant'Anastasia, Verona.

Woman & Infinity Symbol: Ambrogio Borgognone, Italian painter, Milanese school (b. cca. 1453, Fossano, d. 1523); St Catherine of Alexandria 1495 Detached fresco, 170 x 92 cm Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan

Banner: Andrés Marzal de Sax, Spanish painter (active 1393-1410 in Valencia); Retable of St George c. 1400 Tempera on wood, 670 x 486 cm Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Lion: Hans Memling, Flemish painter (b. cca.1440, Seligenstadt, d. 1494, Bruges); Allegory with a Virgin 1479-80 Oil on oak panel, 38.3 x 31.9 cm Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris.

Black Bird: Vittore Carpaccio, Italian painter, Venetian school (b. 1472, Venezia, d. 1526, Capodistria); The Arrival of the Pilgrims in Cologne 1490 Tempera on canvas, 280 x 255 cm Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice.

Parchment Text Panel: Unknown Illuminators, England; The Aberdeen Bestiary (Aberdeen University Library MS 24), written and illuminated around 1200. Aberdeen University, Scotland.

Gilt Border: Conrad Witz, Swiss painter (b. cca 1400, Rottweil, d. cca. 1445, Basel); King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba 1435 Panel, 84 x 79 cm Staatliche Museen, Berlin.