Zavattari

From Tarotpedia

Detail from Visconti-Sforza Queen of Batons(left) and Zavattari fresco in Monza (right)

The Zavattari are a family of painters who worked in Lombardy during the 15th Century. The most ancient information about the family are about the contribution of Cristoforo and Franceschino to the building of the Cathedral of Milan. In particular, we know that in 1417 Francischino worked as a producer of stained-glass.

The masterpiece of the Zavattari family is the Chapel of Queen Teodolinda, in the Cathedral of Monza (near Milan). The chapel is decorated by frescos which are commonly attributed to Ambrogio and Lorenzo. The Chapel in dated 1444.

According to some art historians (e.g. Toesca) the Visconti-Sforza cards could have been produced by the Zavattari, in alternative to the most commonlty attribution to Bonifacio Bembo.

[edit] Emblem with three diamond rings

Detail from Visconti-Sforza Empress(left) and Zavattari fresco in Monza (right). Both works represent the three interlaced rings that were one of the devices of the Sforza family

Some information about this emblem can be found in Giovio, Paolo, Dialogo dell'imprese, 1574. In that text, the emblem is associated to Cosimo (or Cosmo) De' Medici, and its meaning is considered obscure. The emblem is represented both in the Monza frescos and on the dress of the Visconti-Sforza Empress.

Detail from Visconti-Sforza Lovers(left) and Zavattari fresco in Monza (right)

Detail from Visconti-Sforza Page of Batons(left) and Zavattari fresco in Monza (right)

Detail from Visconti-Sforza Wheel of Fortune(left) and Zavattari fresco in Monza (right)