Florentine pattern

O ne of several similar designs which emerged during the nineteenth century, the French-suited, single-figured, large-format Florentine pattern has several distinctive features. The courts are realistically drawn without formalised style, and are dressed in Renaissance costume. The king of diamonds is reading a scroll; the jack of clubs is holding a large book; the queen of hearts is holding a letter, or about to drop it. There are no indices, usually 40 cards. The example shown below is from an uncut sheet by Edoardo Pignalosa, Rampe Brancaccio 76, Napoli, c.1946.

The complete sheet can be seen here.