Universal Tarot Cards (Lo Scarabeo)

Roberto Di Angelis has created a deck inspired by the colours found in an Italian landscape, on a warm, spring afternoon. The softest of blues and greens, terracotta's, buttery yellows are washed over drawings of pen and ink. The characters are dressed in what may be the Renaissance style of clothing, yet the artwork with its bolder pen and ink lines gives it almost a modernist feel. Every picture tells a story and the Universal Tarot does just that. Each individual card looks like a set for a theatre play. The deck follows the Rider Waite very closely, but the artist has enhanced or dramatised each card to portray more obviously its meaning. The Major, Minor and Court cards are all beautifully illustrated with each card carrying its suit in four languages. By using theatricality, the artist has ensured some of the cards appear less frightening but retaining enough to denote its meaning, for example, the Devil looks more mischievous than evil, the three of Swords has a man clearly despairing. If he stood up and burst into an operatic aria then it wouldn't be a surprise! Readers and Querants in early stages of their Tarot journey could read from the cards alone without recourse to a book, whilst those more experienced still have the details and symbolism to decipher. The deck comes with a little white book, which has brief explanation of Tarot history, meanings, a spread and a little of the artist's background. The Universal Tarot would appeal to most tarot readers, either for its artwork or its obvious interpretation.