With their images of princely hunts, opulent costumes, and a cast of characters ranging from royals to commoners, each of the playing cards in this engaging volume is a unique work of art that reflects a period of tumultuous social, artistic, economic, and religious change. The only study of its kind in English, this book features the most important luxury decks of hand-painted European playing cards to have survived from the late Middle Ages, plus a selection of exceptional hand-colored woodblock cards, engraved cards, and tarot packs. Each of these cards has a fascinating story to tell; collectively, they conjure up the courtly culture and customs of the day, and chart the transition from late medieval to early modern Europe.
Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press
Exhibition Schedule:The Cloisters (The Metropolitan Museum of Art)
(01/20/16–04/17/16)
- ISBN10 1588396088
- ISBN13 9781588396082
- Publish Date 23 February 2016
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 4 March 2021
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Format Paperback (US Trade)
- Pages 136
- Language English