Decameron tarot
The Decameron Tarot was created by celebrated Italian illustrator Giacinto Gaudenzi in collaboration with scholar of erotic culture Luciano Spadanuda, and published by Lo Scarabeo (distributed by Llewellyn Worldwide) in 2002. The deck draws its inspiration from Giovanni Boccaccio's 14th-century literary masterpiece "The Decameron," a collection of 100 novellas famous for their frank, bawdy, and often sexually explicit tales of Renaissance Italian life. Lo Scarabeo, the renowned Italian tarot publisher, is known for pairing high production standards with international artistic talent, and the Decameron Tarot is no exception.
Official Website →Art Style & Visual Character
Gaudenzi's illustrations are richly colored and detailed in a style that evokes Italian Renaissance painting — lush, warm, and earthy. The deck is explicitly erotic, depicting intimate scenes throughout all 78 cards. Unlike many erotic tarot decks that idealize a narrow standard of beauty, the Decameron Tarot deliberately celebrates a wide variety of body types, ages, and appearances, reflecting Boccaccio's democratic approach to carnal pleasure. The cards are standard Lo Scarabeo size (2.5" x 4.75") with a smooth glossy finish and high print quality. The overall aesthetic is playful and witty rather than pornographic — Renaissance bawdiness with personality and humor.
Core Concept & Symbolism
The deck maps the traditional 78-card tarot structure onto the earthy, pleasure-affirming world of Boccaccio's Decameron. Each card reimagines standard tarot archetypes through scenes of sensual adventure, with the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana both fully illustrated with erotic content. The concept treats sexuality as a natural, joyful part of human experience rather than something transgressive, echoing Boccaccio's literary philosophy. The multilingual companion booklet (English, Spanish, French, Italian, German) provides interpretive guidance.
Reading Experience
Reception is mixed and depends heavily on reader expectations. Collectors and art enthusiasts praise the illustrations as beautiful and masterfully executed. Some readers find the deck highly entertaining and love its unapologetic celebration of sensuality. However, critical reviewers question its utility for serious divination, noting the repetitive erotic imagery can make it difficult to distinguish interpretive nuances between cards. The deck is generally regarded more as a collector's item and conversation piece than a workhorse reading deck. Strictly adults-only content.
Best Used For
- Collectors of erotic or unusual tarot art
- Lighthearted, playful adult readings
- Relationship and intimacy questions where explicit imagery adds context
- Those interested in the intersection of Renaissance literature and tarot
- Display and artistic appreciation
- Gift for tarot collectors who appreciate provocative art
Not Ideal For
- Serious divination or daily reading practice
- Beginners learning tarot (imagery doesn't clearly convey traditional meanings)
- Any reading where explicit sexual content would be inappropriate
- Readers who prefer subtle or symbolic representation
Major Arcana (22 cards)
The 22 trump cards representing life's spiritual lessons and karmic influences
Minor Arcana (56 cards)
The 56 suit cards reflecting day-to-day events and practical influences
Wands
Fire element — passion, creativity, ambition, and spiritual growth
Cups
Water element — emotions, relationships, intuition, and inner feelings
Swords
Air element — intellect, conflict, truth, and mental clarity
Pentacles
Earth element — material world, finances, health, and practical matters
