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Monday, July 10, 2017

Tavaglione's Sibilla

I was inspired to make a thoughtful comparison between L'Oracolo della Sibilla, created in 1980 by Italian artist Giorgio M. S. Tavaglione, and the traditional Vera Sibilla from the late 19th Century. I love the artwork on Tavaglione's deck, but it veers so far from the traditional Vera Sibilla that I forgo working with L'Oracolo della Sibilla despite how intensely I feel drawn to the deck.

Tavaglione was obviously a huge fan of Sibilla Indovina because the structure of his deck is based primarily on that French inspired Sibilla deck. But it is also clear that he was intimately familiar with the Italian Vera Sibilla because his L'Oracolo della Sibilla seems to be an attempt to bridge these two older Sibilla decks.

For the most part Tavaglione remains faithful to the suit and pip correspondences of the Sibilla Indovina, but he also substitutes in certain cards from La Vera Sibilla that don't appear in Sibilla Indovina. For example, Superbia (Pride) is an extremely important card in La Vera Sibilla, but it does not exist in Sibilla Indovina. So Tavaglione changed the 6 of Spades from Inconstancy to Vanity to include this important symbol. Unfortunately, that left no card in Tavaglione's deck to cover Inconstancy/Leggerezza.

Examples of cards that were substituted from La Vera Sibilla

Another substitution that I question concerns the 5 of hearts which is the Marriage card in Sibilla Indovina. Tavaglione changed this card to Allegrezza, which more closely resembles Allegrezza al Cuore from La Vera Sibilla. The problem for me is that this leaves no obvious Marriage card in Tavaglione's deck since he chose not to include Imeneo.

There are cards from La Vera Sibilla that Tavaglione chose not to specifically represent in his deck. First there is Falsità, which can be loosely covered by Tavaglione's Perfida (Treachery), Lusinga (Flattery) and Pettigolezzi (Gossip), but there is no card in L'Oracolo della Sibilla to specifically represent lies and Falsehood. Then there is Stanza, which can be loosely associated with Tavaglione's Rivelazione, but I think Lettera may be a better fit. Finally there is Leggerezza and I Deliranti-- neither of which is satisfactorily represented in L'Oracolo della Sibilla. Oddly Tavaglione chose to transform Indovina's Casa di Citta' (Townhouse) into Belvedere when the Indovina Absence card already serves the same purpose nicely.

Cards derived from Sibilla Indovina that do not exist in La Vera Sibilla

There is a weird confusion in La Vera Sibilla concerning Donna di Servizio and Omaggio di Preziosi. These two cards are transposed in the Masenghini deck, and the keywords on Donna di Servizio include "Regalo (Gift)" and "Pietre Preziose (Precious Stones)," both meanings traditionally associated with Omaggio di Preziosi-- which is titled Presente di Pietre preziose (Gift of Precious Stones) in the traditional Vera Sibilla.

As I said, it can be slightly confusing. Tavaglione solves this problem by attributing the meanings of "offer/proposal" from Omaggio di Preziosi to the 2 of Spades, which is Gamblers in Sibilla Indovina, and is renamed Offerta (Offering) in L'Oracolo della Sibilla. Then for the meanings of "wealth (from Pietre Preziose)" and "value and advancement (from Donna di Servizio)" he created the Omaggio card from the Indovina Gift card (9 of Clubs).

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I have put together a table to compare Tavaglione's L'Oracolo della Sibilla and the two decks it was obviously derived from: Sibilla Indovina and La Vera Sibilla. Most of the correspondences are a good fit, but a few are a bit of a stretch. For example, I associated Donna Maritata from Vera Sibilla with Tavaglione's Perfida. Even though Donna Maritata is not traditionally read as treachery, in the Masenghini deck she carries the keywords "Perfida" and "Gelosia." The cards from Sibilla Indovina which are highlighted in purple have no correspondence with Tavaglione's Sibilla. In most cases, these are the symbols that he chose to discard in favor of symbols from La Vera Sibilla.

                  L'Oracolo della Sibilla
Sibilla Indovina
La Vera Sibilla
Number
Name in Italian
Name in English
Suit & Pip
Number 
Name in Italian
Name in English
Suit & Pip
#
Name in Italian
Suit & Pip
1
Amore
Love
6 of Hearts
1
Amore
Love
6 of Hearts
--
Amore
4 of Hearts
2
Malinconia
Melancholy
6 of Diamonds
3
Assenza
Absence
6 of Diamonds
--
Malinconia
5 of Diamonds
3
Nemico
Enemy
6 of Clubs
12
Nemico
Enemy
6 of Clubs
--
Il Nemico
Jack of Spades
4
Vanita'
Vanity
6 of Spades
17
Incostanza
Inconstancy
6 of Spades
--
Superbia
2 of Clubs
5
Letterato
Scholar
7 of Hearts
28
Pensiero
Thought
7 of Hearts
--
Artista
7 of Hearts
6
Pettegolezzi
Gossip
7 of Diamonds
9
Cicaleccio
Chattering, Gossip
7 of Diamonds
--


7
Consolazione
Comfort
7 of Clubs
45
Un Po' di Denaro
A Little Money
7 of Clubs
--
Gran Consolazione
7 of Clubs
8
Disputa
Dispute, Debate
7 of Spades
35
Litigio
Quarrel
7 of Spades
--


9
Donna Bionda
Blonde Woman
8 of Hearts
43
Donna Bionda
Blonde Woman
8 of Hearts
--


10
Prigioine
Prison
8 of Diamonds
13
L'Impedimento
Hindrance
8 of Diamonds
--
Prigione
9 of Spades
11
Disappunto
Disappointment
8 of Clubs
10
Stizza, Annoyance
Anger
8 of Clubs
--
Dispiacere
Ace of Spades
12
Malattia
Sickness
8 of Spades
27
Debolezza
Weakness
8 of Spades
--
Ammalato
4 of Spades
13
Sorpresa
Surprise
9 of Hearts
41
Sorpresa
Surprise
9 of Hearts
--
Consolante Sorpresa
6 of Clubs
14
Disgrazia
Misfortune
9 of Diamonds
7
Contrarieta' Dispiacere
Opposition, Sorrow
9 of Diamonds
--
Disgrazia
7 of Spades
15
Omaggio
Homage
9 of Clubs
29
Regali
Gifts
9 of Clubs
--
Donna di Servizio
3 of Diamonds
16
Morte
Death
9 of Spades
21
Spavento
Terror, Death
9 of Spades
--
Morte
5 of Spades
17
Costanza
Constancy
10 of Hearts
4
Attesa
Waiting
10 of Hearts
--
Costanza
10 of Hearts
18
Viaggio
Journey
10 of Diamonds
50
Viaggio
Journey
10 of Diamonds
--
Viaggio
3 of Clubs
19
Successo
Success
10 of Clubs
40
Successo
Success
10 of Clubs
--


20
Lacrime
Tears
10 of Spades
8
Infantilismo
Childishness Tears
10 of Spades
--


21
L'Amante
Male Lover
Jack of Hearts
42
Visita
Visit
Jack of Hearts
--
L'Amante
Jack of Hearts
22
Ladro
Thief
Jack of Diamonds
49
Ladro
Thief
Jack of Diamonds
--
Ladro
10 of Diamonds
23
Lusinga
Flattery
Jack of Clubs
14
Adulatore
Flatterer
Jack of Clubs
--
Domestico
Jack of Clubs
24
Giovin Bruno
Dark-Haired Young man
Jack of Spades
47
Un Giovane Bruno
Dark-Haired Young man
Jack of Spades
--


25
L'Amante
Female Lover
Queen of Hearts
51
Tenerezza
Tenderness
Queen of Hearts
--
L'Amatrice
Queen of Hearts
26
Perfida
Treachery
Queen of Diamonds
22
Donna Collerica
Angry Woman
Queen of Diamonds
--
Donna Maritata
Queen of Diamonds
27
Amica
Female Friend
Queen of Clubs
2
Amica Sincera
Sincere Female Friend
Queen of Clubs
--
Amica
4 of Clubs
28
Afflizione
Affliction
Queen of Spades
44
Una Vedova
A Widow
Queen of Spades
--
Nemica
Queen of Spades
29
Gran Signore
Great Man
King of Hearts
37
Pensionato
Pensioner, Stock Holder
King of Hearts
--
Gran Signore
King of Hearts
30
Militare
Soldier
King of Diamonds
23
Militare
Soldier
King of Diamonds
--
Militare
10 of Spades
31
Protettore
Protector
King of Clubs
31
Protettore
Protector
King of Clubs
--
Dottore
King of Clubs
32
Uomo Di Legge
Man of Law
King of Spades
16
Uomo di Legge
Man of Law
King of Spades
--
Sacerdote
King of Spades
33
Conversazione
Conversation
Ace of Hearts
6
Biglietto Dolce
Love Note
Ace of Hearts
--
Conversazione
Ace of Hearts
34
Messaggio
Message
Ace of Diamonds
46
Una Lettera
A Letter
Ace of Diamonds
--
Messagiero
Jack of Diamonds
35
Denaro
Money
Ace of Clubs
5
Molto Denaro
Lots of Money
Ace of Clubs
--
Denaro
6 of Hearts
36
Solitudine
Loneliness
Ace of Spades
36
Ritardo
Delay
Ace of Spades
--
Vedovo
3 of Spades
37
Casa
House
2 of Hearts
23
Casa di Campagna
Country House
2 of Hearts
--
Casa
2 of Hearts
38
Baldoria
Merrymaking
2 of Diamonds
34
Piacere, Divertimento
Pleasure, Fun
2 of Diamonds
--
Allegria
9 of Clubs
39
Fedelta'
Fidelity
2 of Clubs
15
Fedelta', Attaccamento
Fidelity, Attachment
2 of Clubs
--
Fedelta'
9 of Hearts
40
Offerta
Offering
2 of Spades
18
Giocatori
Gamblers
2 of Spades
--
Omaggio di Preziosi
8 of Diamonds
41
Bambino
Child
3 of Hearts
20
La Consultante
The Female Consultant
3 of Hearts
--
Bambino
7 of Diamonds
42
Pensatore
Thinker
3 of Diamonds
19
Il Consultante
The Male Consultant
3 of Diamonds
--
Pensiero
6 of Diamonds
43
Speranza
Hope
3 of Clubs
11
Speranza
Hope
3 of Clubs
--
Speranza
8 of Hearts
44
Mercante
Merchant
3 of Spades
32
Trappola
Trap
3 of Spades
--
Mercante
King of Diamonds
45
Belvedere
Anticipation
4 of Hearts
24
Casa di Citta'
Town House
4 of Hearts
--
Belvedere
3 of Hearts
46
Rivelazione
Revelation
4 of Diamonds
39
Rivelazione Importante
Important Revelation

--
Lettera
2 of Diamonds
47
Vecchia
Old Woman
4 of Clubs
33
Scampagnata
An Outing in the Country
4 of Clubs
--
La Vecchia Signora
2 of Spades
48
Sospiri
Longing
4 of Spades
48
Una Bruna
Dark-Haired Woman
4 of Spades
--
Sospiri
6 of Spades
49
Allegrezza
Cheerfulness
5 of Hearts
26
Il Matrimonio
The Marriage
5 of Hearts
--
Allegrezza al Cuore
5 of Hearts
50
Riconciliazione
Reconcilation
5 of Diamonds
38
Riconciliazione
Reconciliation
5 of Diamonds
--
La Riunione
8 of Clubs
51
Vittoria
Victory
5 of Clubs
52
Vittoria
Victory
5 of Clubs
--
Fortuna
5 of Clubs
52
Gelosia
Jealousy
5 of Spades
30
Perdita di Dinero
Loss of Money
5 of Spades
--
Gelosia
8 of Spades


I'm struck by the fact that Tavaglione's Sibilla was an attempt by the artist to take the best from the two famous Sibille-- the Sibilla Indovina from the French tradition, and La Vera Sibilla from the Italian tradition, and marry the two into the perfect Sibilla oracle. I haven't worked enough with L'Oracolo della Sibilla to decide if I think he succeeded, but there is no denying that the created a gorgeous Sibilla deck.

Oracle card images used for review and educational purposes only.
L'Oracolo della Sibilla, © 1980 by US Games Systems
La Sibylle Des Salons © 1987 by France Cartes France
La Vera Sibilla © Masenghini Bergamo

Tavaglione's Sibilla

I was inspired to make a thoughtful comparison between L'Oracolo della Sibilla , created in 1980 by Italian artist Giorgio M. S. Tavagli...