Mitelli ‘Gioco di Passatempo’

Published July 22, 2014 • Updated December 08, 2022

Il Gioco di Passatempo contains 40 figurative playing cards depicting moral virtues and vices, dated 1690.

Giuseppe Maria Mitelli (1634-1718) designed and published at least 2 card games. The first was his pack of tarot cards, a new type of Tarocchini di Bologna published in 1664. The second was Il Gioco di Passatempo published in 1690.

Il Gioco di Passatempo contains 40 figurative playing cards of which 20 cards are ‘Trionfi’ (victories or ‘trumps’) representing virtues and arts, identified with a title and little stars at the top of each card. The remaining cards, ‘Cartazze’, represent not-so-virtuous traits (vices) such as envy, frivolity, deception and so on, identified with small black dots. These have lesser value in the game than the virtues. There are no suit cards. The stated object of the game is to win tricks and score more points than your opponent, but the 17th century showcase of moral values, beautifully depicted, is also very interesting, reminding players of their progress in moral development.

Above: Mitelli’s ‘Gioco di Passatempo’, 40 etchings (130 x 65 mm), 1690, republished as a limited edition facsimile by Vito Arienti, Edizioni del Solleone, 1972. Card no.40 ("Il Tempo Passa") is lettered "Gioco del Passa Tempo. Giuseppe M. Mitelli I. e F." Card no.20 contains the rules of the game, with the artist's name and the date. Card no.2 is dated 1690.

REFERENCES

• British Museum website→

• Tarot History website→ (also contains a translation of the rules)

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