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