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VERSION 2.0 IN PROGRESS

Temporary, for editorial feedback only - please do not bookmark or download

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Five of Cups
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A Pope sits on a chair despondently resting his chin on his hand. At his feet are five cups, two of which have fallen over. A priest tries to comfort the Pope, and a black angel floats mournfully in front of him. There is a column with a carving of God admonishing Eve as Adam sleeps after "eating the apple".

My Interpretation: Gifts foolishly discarded. To have tasted from many cups, and forgotten the sweet wine - recalling only a bitter aftertaste. Jaded cynicism and disillusionment. Regret, anger and bitterness. The ending of a relationship. Loss, sorrow and grief. Depression. This card warns of a tendancy to focus on negative memories. (Reversed: Still a card of regret and disillusionment, but of a more transient nature. Hope will soon be regained)

Edit notes to self: This card is different to the Rider-Waite card (cloaked figure with castle and bridge in background), although hopefully still easily recognisable as the five Cups are fairly obvious, and the despondency of the central figure is clear. Still to do - quite happy with it.

Sources:

Base Pic: Simone Martini, Italian painter, Sienese school (b. 1280/85, Siena, d. 1344, Avignon); Meditation 1312-17 Fresco Cappella di San Martino, Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi.

Grey Tiled Floor: Dieric Bouts the Elder, Flemish painter (b. cca. 1415, Haarlem, d. 1475, Leuven); Christ in the House of Simon 1440s Oil on wood, 40.5 x 61 cm Staatliche Museen, Berlin.

Black Angel: Rogier van der Weyden, Flemish painter (b. 1400, Tournai, d. 1464, Bruxelles); Crucifixion Triptych (left panel) c. 1445 Oil on oak panel, 101 x 35 cm Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.

Column with Carvings: Dieric Bouts the Elder, Flemish painter (b. cca. 1415, Haarlem, d. 1475, Leuven); The Annunciation c. 1445 Oil on wood, 80 x 56 cm Museo del Prado, Madrid.

Cup: Master of the Housebook, German engraver/painter (active 1475-90); The Last Supper late 1400s Wood, Staatliche Museen, Berlin.

Cup Gilt Texture: 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.

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.