Cartomancy in Art: Difference between revisions

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So, as you can see, this site is the darling of many, and it is growing at a rapid rate ... but although it is "free," there also is a cost. The financial support of my Patreon subscribers -- my Patrons -- underwrites this cost.
So, as you can see, this site is the darling of many, and it is growing at a rapid rate ... but although it is "free," there also is a cost. The financial support of my Patreon subscribers -- my Patrons -- underwrites this cost.


<br>
<hr>
<br>
== Cartomancy in Art ==
== Cartomancy in Art ==


I have collected a series of 14 paintings in which the black fortune teller is reading cards.  
I have collected a series of 14 paintings in which the black fortune teller is reading cards.  
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layout the reader uses seems most often to be three rows of five, a popular 19th century spread called The Fifteen  
layout the reader uses seems most often to be three rows of five, a popular 19th century spread called The Fifteen  
Card Method.  
Card Method.  
<p>
 
It is obvious that this series was difficult for Harry Roseland to compose, due to the small size  
It is obvious that this series was difficult for Harry Roseland to compose, due to the small size  
of the cards and their indistinct markings. Perhaps the most beautiful image is the  
of the cards and their indistinct markings. Perhaps the most beautiful image is the  
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the cards are seen very clearly against the black leather of the sofa, but this composition  
the cards are seen very clearly against the black leather of the sofa, but this composition  
might be judged unsuccessful to the popular eye because the reader's back is turned to the viewer.  
might be judged unsuccessful to the popular eye because the reader's back is turned to the viewer.  
<p>
 
In 1899, a different painting from the same photo-shoot was released, titled "Reading the Cards,"
In 1899, a different painting from the same photo-shoot was released, titled "Reading the Cards,"
but although in this painting we can see the reader's face, it in the first in which the ungainly  
but although in this painting we can see the reader's face, it in the first in which the ungainly  
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celebrated. Only a card-reader might pick up on the awkwardness, of course -- and to the public,  
celebrated. Only a card-reader might pick up on the awkwardness, of course -- and to the public,  
these hat-box-lid scenes probably look just fine.  
these hat-box-lid scenes probably look just fine.  
<p>
 
In his repeated attempts to capture the essence of the   
In his repeated attempts to capture the essence of the   
card readings, Roseland posed his subjects in a wide variety of seating arrangements, moving from  
card readings, Roseland posed his subjects in a wide variety of seating arrangements, moving from  
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surface for card reading, but the angle was too tall for Roseland to clearly show the faces of  
surface for card reading, but the angle was too tall for Roseland to clearly show the faces of  
the cards. He can only show the reader holding a card, never the full layout.  
the cards. He can only show the reader holding a card, never the full layout.  
<p>
 
At this point he left the world of naturalism and began setting up paired chairs with a  
At this point he left the world of naturalism and began setting up paired chairs with a  
variety of stools between them on which a flat surface was laid for the card reading. In some cases he  
variety of stools between them on which a flat surface was laid for the card reading. In some cases he  
resorted to the awkward device of a lap-board.
resorted to the awkward device of a lap-board.
<p>
 
The lid of the reader's hatbox, in which she keeps her knitting, provides an incredibly fragile and  
The lid of the reader's hatbox, in which she keeps her knitting, provides an incredibly fragile and  
awkward reading surface; better is the wooden checkerboard. The latter may look like a random square of  
awkward reading surface; better is the wooden checkerboard. The latter may look like a random square of  
wood to a viewer unfamiliar with the other paintings Harry Roseland made of this family, but there
wood to a viewer unfamiliar with the other paintings Harry Roseland made of this family, but there
are several in which the reader's husband and grandchildren play checkers on this same board.
are several in which the reader's husband and grandchildren play checkers on this same board.
<p>
 
Finally, as a last resort, he places the reader on the floor, in imitation of European "Gypsy card reading"  
Finally, as a last resort, he places the reader on the floor, in imitation of European "Gypsy card reading"  
paintings of his era. While the compsition is satisfactory, the reader must now employ the typical  
paintings of his era. While the compsition is satisfactory, the reader must now employ the typical  
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odd: you just know she would never have done that herself, and you can only imaging how her bones  
odd: you just know she would never have done that herself, and you can only imaging how her bones  
ached after taking that pose!
ached after taking that pose!
<p>
 
As with all of Harry Roseland's other paintings, titles were often re-used, especially when the images  
As with all of Harry Roseland's other paintings, titles were often re-used, especially when the images  
were to be printed in sets of six postcards, so i have given each image a unique descriptor.  
were to be printed in sets of six postcards, so i have given each image a unique descriptor.  
I have organized them roughly by location within the home, number of clients, and then chronologically.  
I have organized them roughly by location within the home, number of clients, and then chronologically.  
<pre>
Sofa
1 Harry-Roseland-It-s-All-In-The-Cards-1898-Sofa-Chair-One-Client.jpg
2 Harry-Roseland-Reading-The-Cards-1899-Hat-Box-Lid-Lap-Sofa-One-Client.jpg
3 Harry-Roseland-The-Fortune-Teller-1910-Card-Reading-Hat-Box-Lid-Lap-Sofa-One-Client.jpg
4 Harry-Roseland-The-Fortune-Teller-Undated-Card-Reading-Hat-Box-Lid-Lap-Sofa-Chair-Two-Clients.jpg
Table and Chairs
5 Harry-Roseland-Pick-A-Card-Undated-Red-Tablecloth-Chairs-Two-Clients.jpg
6 Harry-Roseland-Reading-Her-Cards-Undated-Banded-Tablecloth-Chairs-One-Client.jpg
Chairs and Stools
7 Harry-Roseland-Reading-The-Cards-Undated-Four-Legged-Stool-Chairs-Two-Clients.jpg
8 Harry-Roseland-The-Prophesy-Of-The-Cards-1923-Checker-Board-Four-Legged-Stool-Chairs-One-Client.jpg
9 Harry-Roseland-Reading-The-Cards-1903-Checker-Board-Lap-Chairs-Two-Clients.jpg
10 Harry-Roseland-The-Fortune-Teller-1903-Card-Reading-Checker-Board-Hat-Box-Kitchen-Stool-Chair-One-Client.jpg
11 Harry-Roseland-The-Fortune-Teller-1908-Card-Reading-Hat-Box-Kitchen-Stool-Chairs-One-Client.jpg
12 Harry-Roseland-The-Fortune-Teller-Undated-Card-Reading-Hat-Box-Footstool-Chairs-One-Client.jpg
13 Harry-Roseland-The-Fortune-Teller-Undated-Card-Reading-Hat-Box-Lid-Lap-Chairs-One-Client.jpg
Floor
14 Harry-Roseland-The-Fortune-Teller-1904-Card-Reading-Floor-And-Chair-One-Client.jpg
</pre>
<hr width=50%>


<p>
<p>
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<br>(1898)
<br>(1898)
<br>  
<br>  
<i>Elements:
One Client, Sofa,
Rag Rug,
Playing Cards,
Hat Box</i>


</center>
</center>
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<br>(1899)
<br>(1899)
<br>
<br>
<i>Elements:
Sofa,
One Client,
Playing Cards,
Rag Rug,
Hat Box,</i>
</center>
</p>


<hr width=50%>
<hr width=50%>
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<br>(1910; signed, oil on canvas, 20" x 30")
<br>(1910; signed, oil on canvas, 20" x 30")
<br>
<br>
<i>Elements:
Playing Cards,
Sofa,
One Client,
Footstool,
Hat Box,
Rag Rug,
Purse</i>
</center>
</p>


<hr width=50%>
<hr width=50%>
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<br>(Undated)
<br>(Undated)
<br>
<br>
<i>Elements:
Sofa,
Playing Cards,
Rag Rug,
Two Clients </i>
</center>
</p>


<hr width=50%>
<hr width=50%>
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<br>(Undated)
<br>(Undated)
<br>
<br>
<i>Elements:
Table,
Red Tablecloth,
Brown Teapot,
Chairs,
Rag Rug,
Workbasket,
Yarn Balls,
Two Clients</i>
</center>
</p>


<hr width=50%>
<hr width=50%>
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Reading Her Cards  
Reading Her Cards  
<br>(Undated)
<br>(Undated)
<i><br>
Elements:
Table,
Striped Tablecloth,
Chairs,
Rag Rug,
One Client</i>
</center>
</p>




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see a fuller version of the calendar above)  
see a fuller version of the calendar above)  
<br>
<br>
<i>Elements:
Playing Cards,
Hat Box,
One Client,
Kitchen Stool</i>
</center>
</p>




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<br>(Undated)
<br>(Undated)
<br>
<br>
<i>Elements:
Playing Cards,
Lap,
Hatbox Lid,
Chairs,
One Client</i>
</center>
</p>




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(Undated)
(Undated)
<br>
<br>
<i>Elements:
Playing Cards,
Hat-Box,
Footstool,
Chairs,
Work Basket,
Loose Balls of Yarn,
One Client</i>
</center>
</p>


<hr width=50%>
<hr width=50%>
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(Undated, Oil on Canvas; 20" x 32", Signed Upper Middle Right)
(Undated, Oil on Canvas; 20" x 32", Signed Upper Middle Right)
<br>
<br>
<i>Elements:
Playing Cards,
Four-Legged Stool,
Chairs,
Bellows,
Braided Rug,
Two Clients </i>
</center>
</p>


<hr width=50%>
<hr width=50%>
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(1923)
(1923)
<br>
<br>
<i>Elements:
Playing Cards,
Checkerboard,
Four-Legged Stool,
Chairs,
Two Clients</i>
</center>
</p>


<hr width=50%>
<hr width=50%>
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(1904)
(1904)
<br>
<br>
<i>Elements:
Playing Cards,
Floor,
One Client</i>
</center>
</p>


<hr width=50%>
<hr width=50%>

Revision as of 03:35, 15 August 2025

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Cartomancy in Art

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  • Patreon Release Date: August 14th, 2025.
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All of the material you have access to here -- the instructive booklets, the nostalgic postcards, the boldly graphic ephemera, and all of the historical information researched and shared from the mind of the woman who is making it all happen -- can easily fit into one 8 x 10 foot room in an old Victorian farmhouse, but you would never see it without the investment of the time it takes to produce such a site and the caloric input such a site requires in the form of food for the writer, graphic designer, and database manager, as well as the US currency needed to pay for the computers, software applications, scanners, electricity, and internet connectivity that bring it out of that little room and into the world.

So, as you can see, this site is the darling of many, and it is growing at a rapid rate ... but although it is "free," there also is a cost. The financial support of my Patreon subscribers -- my Patrons -- underwrites this cost.

Cartomancy in Art

I have collected a series of 14 paintings in which the black fortune teller is reading cards. The cards are a pack of ordinary playing cards, and the layout the reader uses seems most often to be three rows of five, a popular 19th century spread called The Fifteen Card Method.

It is obvious that this series was difficult for Harry Roseland to compose, due to the small size of the cards and their indistinct markings. Perhaps the most beautiful image is the 1898 paining "It's All in the Cards," in which the cards are seen very clearly against the black leather of the sofa, but this composition might be judged unsuccessful to the popular eye because the reader's back is turned to the viewer.

In 1899, a different painting from the same photo-shoot was released, titled "Reading the Cards," but although in this painting we can see the reader's face, it in the first in which the ungainly devise of the hat box lid was introduced as a reading surface. No real card reader would ever use a small, light-weight circular surface to read by the Fifteen Card Method, and all subsequent images in which the hat box lid appears are lacking in the naturalism for which Roseland was justly celebrated. Only a card-reader might pick up on the awkwardness, of course -- and to the public, these hat-box-lid scenes probably look just fine.

In his repeated attempts to capture the essence of the card readings, Roseland posed his subjects in a wide variety of seating arrangements, moving from the sofa to a table. The table was -- and remains -- the standard surface for card reading, but the angle was too tall for Roseland to clearly show the faces of the cards. He can only show the reader holding a card, never the full layout.

At this point he left the world of naturalism and began setting up paired chairs with a variety of stools between them on which a flat surface was laid for the card reading. In some cases he resorted to the awkward device of a lap-board.

The lid of the reader's hatbox, in which she keeps her knitting, provides an incredibly fragile and awkward reading surface; better is the wooden checkerboard. The latter may look like a random square of wood to a viewer unfamiliar with the other paintings Harry Roseland made of this family, but there are several in which the reader's husband and grandchildren play checkers on this same board.

Finally, as a last resort, he places the reader on the floor, in imitation of European "Gypsy card reading" paintings of his era. While the compsition is satisfactory, the reader must now employ the typical Gypsy arc-of-cards layout, whch was pretty obviously not this woman's chosen method. Not only that, seeing the reader, obviously an elderly lady with mobility issues, seated on the floor is a bit odd: you just know she would never have done that herself, and you can only imaging how her bones ached after taking that pose!

As with all of Harry Roseland's other paintings, titles were often re-used, especially when the images were to be printed in sets of six postcards, so i have given each image a unique descriptor. I have organized them roughly by location within the home, number of clients, and then chronologically.

<a href="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-It-s-All-In-The-Cards-1898-Sofa-Chair-One-Client.jpg"> <img src="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-It-s-All-In-The-Cards-1898-Sofa-Chair-One-Client.jpg" align=center width=700 border=1 ></a>

It's All in the Cards
(1898)



<a href="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-Reading-The-Cards-1899-Hat-Box-Lid-Lap-Sofa-One-Client.jpg"> <img src="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-Reading-The-Cards-1899-Hat-Box-Lid-Lap-Sofa-One-Client.jpg" align=center width=700 border=1 ></a>

Reading the Cards
(1899)


<a href="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-The-Fortune-Teller-1910-Card-Reading-Hat-Box-Lid-Lap-Sofa-One-Client.jpg"> <img src="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-The-Fortune-Teller-1910-Card-Reading-Hat-Box-Lid-Lap-Sofa-One-Client.jpg" align=center width=700 border=1 ></a>

The Fortune Teller
(1910; signed, oil on canvas, 20" x 30")

<a href="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-The-Fortune-Teller-Cards-Two-Women-Sofa.jpg"> <img src="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-The-Fortune-Teller-Cards-Two-Women-Sofa.jpg" align=center width=700 border=1 ></a>

The Fortune Teller
(Undated)


<a href="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-Pick-A-Card.jpg"> <img src="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-Pick-A-Card.jpg" align=center width=700 border=1 ></a>

Pick A Card
(Undated)


<a href="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-Reading-Her-Cards-Undated-Banded-Tablecloth-Chairs-One-Client.jpg"> <img src="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-Reading-Her-Cards-Undated-Banded-Tablecloth-Chairs-One-Client.jpg" align=center width=700 border=1 ></a>

Reading Her Cards
(Undated)



<a href="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-Reading-the-Cards-1903-Square-Lap-Board-Two-Women.jpg"> <img src="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-Reading-the-Cards-1903-Square-Lap-Board-Two-Women.jpg" align=center width=700 border=1 ></a>

Reading the Cards (1903; Square Lap Board, Two Women)



<a href="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-The-Fortune-Teller-1903.jpg"> <img src="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-The-Fortune-Teller-1903.jpg" align=center width=700 border=1 ></a>

The Fortune Teller (1903, square checker or Chess Board on Hat Box)



<a href="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-The-Fortune-Teller-1908-Card-Reading-Hat-Box-Kitchen-Stool-Chairs-One-Client.jpg"> <img src="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-The-Fortune-Teller-1908-Card-Reading-Hat-Box-Kitchen-Stool-Chairs-One-Client.jpg" align=center width=700 border=1 ></a>

The Fortune Teller
(1908, Unsigned; 11 1/2" x 11 1/2"; this was a calendar print for McCormick farm implements, hence the square format; see a fuller version of the calendar above)


<a href="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-The-Fortune-Teller-Undated-Card-Reading-Hat-Box-Lid-Lap-Chairs-One-Client.jpg"> <img src="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-The-Fortune-Teller-Undated-Card-Reading-Hat-Box-Lid-Lap-Chairs-One-Client.jpg" align=center width=700 border=1 ></a>

The Fortune Teller
(Undated)


<a href="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-The-Fortune-Teller-Undated-Card-Reading-Hat-Box-Footstool-Chairs-One-Client.jpg"> <img src="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-The-Fortune-Teller-Undated-Card-Reading-Hat-Box-Footstool-Chairs-One-Client.jpg" align=center width=700 border=1 ></a>

The Fortune Teller
(Undated)

<a href="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-Reading-The-Cards-Undated-Four-Legged-Stool-Chairs-Two-Clients.jpg"> <img src="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-Reading-The-Cards-Undated-Four-Legged-Stool-Chairs-Two-Clients.jpg" align=center width=700 border=1 ></a>

Reading the Cards
(Undated, Oil on Canvas; 20" x 32", Signed Upper Middle Right)

<a href="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-The-Prophesy-Of-The-Cards-1923-Checker-Board-Four-Legged-Stool-Chairs-Two-Clients.jpg"> <img src="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-The-Prophesy-Of-The-Cards-1923-Checker-Board-Four-Legged-Stool-Chairs-Two-Clients.jpg" align=center width=700 border=1 ></a>

The Prophesy of the Cards
(1923)


<a href="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-The-Fortune-Teller-1904-Card-Reading-Floor-And-Chair-One-Client.jpg"> <img src="http://www.mystictearoom.com/Harry-Roseland-The-Fortune-Teller-1904-Card-Reading-Floor-And-Chair-One-Client.jpg" align=center width=700 border=1 ></a>

The Fortune Teller
(1904)

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See Also

Cartomancy_Postcards_by_Fred_C._Lounsbury

To Discuss This Patreon Page

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Thank you.

catherine yronwode
curator, historian, and docent
Your Wate and Fate

Special thanks to my dear husband and creative partner nagasiva yronwode for illustrations, scans, and clean-ups.


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