The Visconti-Sforza tarocchi decks (15th century)

This project aims to analyze and compare the three earliest and most complete surviving sets of 15th-century Italian tarocchi cards, known as the Visconti-Sforza decks. Created between 1441 and 1458, these decks were likely commissioned by the Dukes of Milan and are generally attributed to Bonifacio Bembo and his workshop. Using non-invasive and minimally invasive techniques, the international research team is examining the materials and techniques used in the cards' creation, filling the knowledge gaps on their production. These decks are also being compared with other similar sets and artworks, placing them in the context of contemporary Northern Italian illumination and contributing to the ongoing research into their manufacture and attribution.