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VERSION 2.0 IN PROGRESS

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

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King of Swords
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A King sits on a stone throne with rich, red furnishings. He holds a sword pointed upward, and in his other hand he holds a glass orb topped with a gold cross. A butterfly is delicately perched on a tasselled cushion at his side.

My Interpretation: A strong man who may be very opinionated. An authority figure. A perceptive, strong willed, intelligent man. (Reversed: tyranny and domination, a cruel, cold man).

Edit notes to self: Different to v1.0 card as I've swapped pictures around and added more symbolism to assist readers. This card is now more similar to the Rider-Waite card, hopefully easily recognisable as both King and Sword are fairly obvious. There are clouds and a butterfly to signify the suit. The King holds his sword uplifted, and holds a holy orb. Still to do - quite happy with it.

Sources:

Base Pic: Domenico Veneziano, Italian painter, Florentine school (b. cca. 1410, Venezia ?, d. 1461, Firenze ?); The Madonna and Child with Saints c. 1445 Tempera on wood, 209 x 216 cm Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence.

Body: Simone Martini, Italian painter, Sienese school (b. 1280/85, Siena, d. 1344, Avignon); Madonna and Child between St Stephen and St Ladislaus 1318 Fresco, 110 x 200 cm Lower Church, San Francesco, Assisi.

Throne: Giovanni Bellini, Italian painter, Venetian school (b. cca. 1426, Venezia, d. 1516, Venezia); Madonna Enthroned Adoring the Sleeping Child 1475 Tempera on wood, 120 x 65 cm Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice.

Crown and Ruby Jewel Brooch: Hans Memling, Flemish painter (b. cca.1440, Seligenstadt, d. 1494, Bruges); Christ Surrounded by Musician Angels 1480s Oil on wood, 164 x 212 cm Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp.

Stern Face: Dieric Bouts the Elder, Flemish painter (b. cca. 1415, Haarlem, d. 1475, Leuven); Martyrdom of St Erasmus (triptych) mid 1400's, Oil on wood, 34 x 148 cm Sint-Pieterskerk, Leuven.

Glass Orb: Petrus Christus, Flemish painter (b. 1410/20, Baarle, d. 1475/76, Brugge); Madonna c. 1445 Wood, 55.5 x 31.5 cm Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest.

Sky: Antonello da Messina, Italian painter, Southern Italian school (b. cca. 1430, Messina, d 1479, Messina); St Sebastian 1476-77 Oil on canvas transferred from panel, 171 x 85.5 cm Gemäldegalerie, Dresden.

Cloud Bank on Horizon: Paulo Uccello, Italian painter, Florentine school (b. 1397, Firenze, d. 1475, Firenze); St. George and the Dragon c. 1456 Oil on canvas, 57 x 73 cm National Gallery, London.

Butterfly: Pisanello, Italian painter (b. 1395, Pisa, d. 1455, Roma); Portrait of a Princess of the House of Este 1436-38 Tempera on wood, 43 x 30 cm Musée du Louvre, Paris.

Sword: Hans Memling, Flemish painter (b. cca.1440, Seligenstadt, d. 1494, Bruges); The Archangel Michael c. 1479 Oil on wood, 37 x 16 cm Wallace Collection, London.

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.