Robert M. Place

Robert M. Place (born 1947) is an artist and author known for his work on Tarot.

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Work as an Artist

Place has worked since the 1970s as a sculptor, jeweler and illustrator.^[1] His sculpture has been exhibited on the White House Christmas tree, in, The New York State Museum,^[2][3] The Delaware Art Museum, and The Irish American Heritage Museum. Place’s jewelry has been exhibited in The American Craft Museum,^[4] The Philadelphia Museum of Art,^[5] The Montclair Art Museum, The Summit Art Center, ^[6] the International Wilhelm Muller Competition, (which toured Museums in Germany),^[7][8] Birmingham Institute of Art & Design, England, and in numerous galleries in the United States Ireland, Britain, and Japan. Place was awarded a 1984-85 New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fellowship ^[9] and the Niche Magazine Award for outstanding achievement in metal sculpture in 1990 ^[10] and in 1991.^[11]

Work as Tarot Designer and Author

In the 1990s, Place turned his attention as an illustrator to the creation of tarot decks and began his career as an author. Place is best known as the creator of The Alchemical Tarot, his first deck and book combination, which is illustrated in the style of 17th century alchemical engravings and presents a parallel between the “great work” of alchemy,which leads to the creation of the philosopher’s stone and the allegory in the tarot’s trumps.^[12][13][14]

In his other decks, The Angels Tarot, The Tarot of the Saints, and The Buddha Tarot, Place has explored the connection between religion, mysticism and the tarot’s symbolism.^[15]

In his fifth book, The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination, his first book published not in connection with a tarot deck, Place contributes to the field of tarot history by discussing the images in the tarot in relation to the iconography of the 15th century Italian Renaissance, the era when the tarot was created. Place relates each image in the tarot to similar images created at the that time and presents a theory of interpretation that is rooted in the art and philosophy of the time. The book also discusses contrasting occult theories and champions Pamela Colman Smith as the primary designer of the Waite-Smith Tarot.^[16][17]

The Tarotpedia says that The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination “is bound to find a place amongst the most important works published this decade.”^[18]

"Booklist", the publication of the American Library Association, says that The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination “may be the best book ever written on that deck of cards decorated with mysterious images called the tarot.”^[19]

Tarot Decks by Place

• The Alchemical Tarot
• The Alchemical Tarot: Art Edition
• The Alchemical Tarot: Renewed (work in progress)
• The Angels Tarot
• The Buddha Tarot
• The Tarot of the Saints
• The Vampire Tarot (work in progress)
• The Tarot of the Sevenfold Mystery (work in progress)

Books by Place

• The Alchemical Tarot: Revisited,(work in progress)
• Mysteries, Legends, and Unexplained Phenomena Series: Astrology and Divination,(work in progress)
• Mysteries, Legends, and Unexplained Phenomena Series: Shamanism,(work in progress)
• The Vampire Tarot,(work in progress)
• The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination, 2005, [ISBN 1585423491]
• The Buddha Tarot Companion: A Mandala of Cards, 2004, [ISBN 1567185290]
• A Gnostic Book of Saints, 2001, [ISBN 0738701165]
• The Angels Tarot, coauthored with Rosemary Ellen Guiley, 1995, [ISBN0062511939]
• The Alchemical Tarot, coauthored with Rosemary Ellen Guiley, 1995, [ISBN 1855383012]

References

1. ^ “Lapidary Journal," February 1989
2. ^ “American Craft," April/May 1997
3. ^ “American Craft," June/July 1999
4. ^ “Ornament," 1992
5. ^ “Kaatskill Life: A Regional Journal," Sommer 2001
6. ^ “American Craft," October/November 1985
7. ^ “Ornament," August 1985
8. ^ “Ornament," Spring 1989
9. ^ Bishop Gordon (1985) Gems of New Jersey, Prentice Hall, Englewood Clifts, NJ ISBN 0133474364
10. ^ “Niche," Spring 1990
11. ^ “Niche," Spring 1991
12. ^ "Gnosis: A Journal of Western Inner Traditions," Fall 1989
13. ^ "Gnosis: A Journal of Western Inner Traditions," Summer 1996
14. ^ http://www.tarotpedia.com/wiki/index.php/Alchemical_Tarot
15. ^ http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/learn/interview_place.shtml
16. ^ Robles-Smith, Kimberley,"Library Journal," 2005
17. ^ Monaghan, Patricia, "Booklist," 2005
18. ^ http://www.tarotpedia.com/wiki/index.php/Robert_Place
19. ^ Monaghan