Gambling and Vice in the Middle Ages

The month of September in the Book of Hours of Charles V, produced in Paris around 1500, has a miniature painting showing the sinner gambling accompanied by two women. Playing cards can be seen arranged on the table, along with money and other items. One of the women is distracting him whilst the other cheats. This is a frequent theme in Northern European medieval art. The moral message is that not only is he losing his soul but also all his goods, leading to misery. A libra sign is shown at the top left-hand corner. The right-hand miniature depicts salvation through prayer.

Above: detail from the month of September from Libro de horas de Carlos V, Biblioteca Nacional de España, online here►  (click 13th thumbnail).

Apart from the theological meaning, the illustration offers what was most probably a typical scene in taverns or public houses of that time.

Above: the french artist has not painted much detail on the playing cards, but black and red pips can be seen on fairly elongated cards. The manner of holding the cards is one just above the other, in a single pile, rather than fanned out more →

Further Thoughts

“La primera conclusión es que todo el mundo jugaba a las cartas a pesar de que estaba prohibido jugar apostando”... more →

A late XV century engraving by the German engraver and goldsmith Israhel van Meckenem (c.1445 – 1503) also has a possible allegorical or moral interpretation. It shows a seated woman showing a playing card to a young man who seems slightly startled, raising his hand in surprise. The room is a detailed domestic scene with pitchers and other items. The rest of the pack of cards is on the table between them, but no coins or money.

The woman could be a fortune-teller using playing cards, which were associated with both games and divinatory practices during this period. The young man’s hand gesture suggesting surprise or concern possibly indicates moral confusion. The image might be a cautionary allegory warning about the perils of divination or other temptations, the youth being lured away from virtuous behaviour, led astray by superficial diversion.

Above: a late XV century engraving by the German engraver and goldsmith Israhel van Meckenem (c.1445 – 1503)