Temperance Tarot Art History: Symbolism Across Decks

BY NICOLE LAU

Temperance Through the Ages: The Evolution of Tarot's Angel of Balance

Temperance is one of the most visually consistent yet symbolically rich cards in tarot history. From medieval Italian playing cards to contemporary art decks, this card has maintained its core imagery—a figure pouring liquid between vessels—while each era and artist has infused it with their own understanding of balance, moderation, and alchemical transformation. This journey through Temperance's artistic evolution reveals not just changing aesthetics, but evolving human understanding of harmony, integration, and the middle way.

Origins: The Visconti-Sforza Tarot (1440s)

The earliest known depiction of Temperance appears in the Visconti-Sforza deck, where the card shows a female figure pouring liquid between two vessels.

Key Features:

• Female figure (representing the virtue of Temperance)
• Pouring between two vessels or jugs
• Richly dressed in period clothing
• Standing position, grounded
• No wings in earliest versions
• Simple, direct representation of the virtue

Historical Context: In 15th century Italy, Temperance was one of the four cardinal virtues (along with Prudence, Justice, and Fortitude). The card represented the virtue of moderation, self-control, and the tempering of extremes—essential qualities for nobility and spiritual development. The pouring between vessels symbolized the mixing and moderating of elements, particularly the tempering of wine with water (a common practice) to avoid excess.

The Marseille Tradition (1650-1930)

The Tarot de Marseille established Temperance (La Tempérance) as a winged figure, elevating the virtue to angelic or divine status.

Iconic Marseille Features:

• Winged figure (angel or divine messenger)
• Pouring between two vessels
• One foot on land, one in water (in some versions)
• Bright, bold colors (red, blue, yellow)
• Numbered XIV (14)
• Frontal or three-quarter view
• Simple background

The Addition of Wings: The Marseille tradition's addition of wings transformed Temperance from human virtue to divine principle. This suggested that true balance and moderation are not merely human achievements but require divine grace or higher consciousness. The angel represents the elevated state achieved through temperance.

The Pouring: The continuous pouring between vessels became the card's defining action—representing the constant flow, the ongoing practice of balance, and the alchemical process of mixing and tempering elements.

The Rider-Waite-Smith Revolution (1909)

When Pamela Colman Smith created Temperance for the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, she made subtle but profound changes that emphasized the card's spiritual and alchemical dimensions.

RWS Temperance Innovations:

• Clearly angelic figure with large wings
• One foot on land, one in water (balance between worlds)
• Liquid flowing upward between cups (defying gravity)
• Triangle within square on chest (spirit in matter)
• Iris flowers in foreground (rainbow bridge)
• Path leading to mountains with crown/sun between them
• Serene, peaceful expression
• Androgynous appearance (integration of masculine/feminine)

The Impossible Pour: Smith's most revolutionary addition was making the liquid flow upward between cups, defying physical laws. This emphasized that Temperance represents spiritual alchemy, not physical chemistry—the impossible made possible through divine grace and higher consciousness.

One Foot in Each World: By clearly showing one foot on land and one in water, Smith emphasized Temperance's role as bridge between material and spiritual, conscious and unconscious, practical and mystical. The angel stands in both worlds simultaneously.

The Path to the Crown: The winding path leading to distant mountains with a crown or sun between them represents the spiritual journey—the long path to enlightenment through patient practice of balance and moderation.

Thoth Tarot: Crowley and Harris (1938-1943)

Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot, painted by Lady Frieda Harris, renamed Temperance as "Art" and emphasized its alchemical and creative dimensions.

Thoth "Art" Features:

• Renamed "Art" (emphasizing skill and creation)
• Complex alchemical symbolism
• Figure shown as alchemist or artist
• Multiple vessels and alchemical apparatus
• Lion and eagle imagery (fixed and volatile principles)
• Geometric patterns suggesting mathematical precision
• Vibrant, abstract art style
• Emphasis on transformation and creation

From Virtue to Art: Crowley's renaming emphasized that temperance is not passive moderation but active skill—the art of balance, the craft of integration, the mastery of blending opposites. This reframed temperance as sophisticated technique rather than simple restraint.

Alchemical Emphasis: Harris's imagery heavily emphasized alchemical transformation—the scientific/mystical process of combining elements to create gold (enlightenment). Temperance/Art is the alchemist performing the Great Work.

The Alchemical Tradition

Many tarot artists have emphasized Temperance's connection to alchemy—the mystical science of transformation through careful mixing and tempering.

Alchemical Themes in Temperance:

• Mixing of elements (fire and water, sun and moon)
• Tempering process (heating and cooling to perfect balance)
• Creation of Philosopher's Stone through balance
• Union of opposites (masculine/feminine, volatile/fixed)
• Transformation through patient, skillful process
• The alchemist as divine artist

This tradition views Temperance not as restraint but as active transformation—the sophisticated skill of blending opposites into something greater than either alone.

Feminist and Revisionist Decks (1970s-1990s)

The feminist spirituality movement brought new interpretations of Temperance that emphasized healing, integration, and the sacred feminine.

Motherpeace Tarot (1981):

• Emphasis on healing and integration
• Connection to water and flow
• Temperance as healer and integrator
• Less emphasis on restraint, more on harmony

Daughters of the Moon Tarot (1984):

• Goddess imagery
• Connection to natural cycles and balance
• Emphasis on intuitive balance rather than rational control
• Integration of body wisdom

Cultural Reframing: These decks questioned whether traditional "temperance" (often meaning restraint, especially of women) was the same as true balance. They reframed the card as integration, healing, and the wisdom of natural rhythms rather than imposed moderation.

Contemporary Art Decks (2000-Present)

Modern tarot has brought diverse interpretations of Temperance, from minimalist to elaborate, from traditional to radical.

The Wild Unknown Tarot (2012):

• Minimalist black and white aesthetic
• Abstract representation of balance
• Emphasis on natural harmony
• Less anthropomorphic, more universal

The Fountain Tarot (2014):

• Sleek, modern aesthetic
• Emphasis on flow and integration
• Geometric precision suggesting mathematical balance
• Minimalist, elegant approach

The Spacious Tarot (2019):

• Watercolor, ethereal style
• Emphasis on gentle flow and harmony
• Soft, peaceful interpretation
• Integration of Eastern concepts of balance

Diverse Cultural Perspectives:

• Eastern-influenced decks emphasizing yin-yang balance
• Indigenous-inspired decks connecting to natural cycles
• Afrofuturist decks reimagining balance through cultural lens
• LGBTQ+ decks emphasizing gender integration and fluidity

Consistent Symbols Across All Traditions

Despite vast artistic differences, certain symbols remain remarkably consistent across Temperance cards:

The Pouring Between Vessels: Universal across virtually all Temperance cards. Represents mixing, blending, tempering, and the continuous flow of balance.

Two Vessels/Cups: Representing duality, opposites, or different elements that must be blended. The two becoming one through skillful mixing.

The Figure (Human or Angel): Representing consciousness, skill, or divine grace performing the act of balance. The agent of temperance.

The Number 14: Consistently associated with Temperance, reducing to 5 (change, adaptation) and following 13 (Death/transformation).

Sense of Flow and Movement: Even in static images, Temperance conveys flow, process, ongoing practice rather than fixed state.

Cultural Variations in Temperance Symbolism

Western Christian Influence: Temperance as cardinal virtue, restraint of appetites, moderation as moral good. Emphasis on self-control and discipline.

Alchemical Tradition: Temperance as active transformation, skillful blending, creation through balance. Emphasis on art and mastery.

Eastern Philosophy: Some contemporary decks integrate concepts of yin-yang, middle way (Buddhism), wu wei (Taoism). Emphasis on natural balance rather than imposed control.

Healing Traditions: Modern interpretations often emphasize Temperance as healer, integrator, restorer of wholeness. Emphasis on therapeutic balance.

The Evolution of Meaning

Temperance's meaning has evolved significantly across tarot history:

Medieval/Renaissance: Virtue of moderation, restraint of excess, moral self-control. Primarily about not overdoing things.

Alchemical Period: Active transformation, skillful blending, creation through balance. Shift from restraint to artistry.

Psychological Era: Integration of opposites, balance of conscious/unconscious, wholeness. Influenced by Jung's concept of integration.

Contemporary: Sustainable living, work-life balance, holistic health, environmental harmony. Applied to modern concerns about balance.

Artistic Techniques and Their Meanings

Realistic vs. Abstract: Realistic angels emphasize the personal, relatable aspect of balance. Abstract representations emphasize universal principles.

Color Symbolism: Blue (spiritual flow, peace), purple (divine wisdom), gold (alchemical transformation), white (purity, clarity), rainbow (integration of all colors).

Static vs. Dynamic: Some cards show peaceful stillness; others show active pouring. Both represent different aspects of balance—being and doing.

Earthly vs. Celestial: Some emphasize grounded, practical balance; others emphasize spiritual, transcendent harmony.

Choosing Your Temperance: Deck Selection

When selecting a tarot deck, consider how Temperance is portrayed:

For traditional readings: Rider-Waite-Smith offers balanced symbolism—spiritual yet accessible

For alchemical work: Thoth or esoteric decks emphasize transformation and mastery

For healing focus: Decks emphasizing Temperance as healer and integrator

For modern life: Contemporary decks applying balance to work-life, sustainability, holistic health

For spiritual practice: Decks emphasizing the angelic, divine aspect of balance

The Constant Unification Perspective

In the Constant Unification framework, the evolution of Temperance's imagery across centuries and cultures reveals a profound truth: while artistic expression changes, the underlying constant remains. Whether depicted as medieval virtue, Renaissance angel, alchemical artist, or modern healer, Temperance always represents the same universal law—sustainable systems require balance, extremes eventually collapse, and integration creates emergence.

Different artistic traditions are not contradictory interpretations but different calculation methods revealing the same constant. The Marseille Temperance, the RWS Temperance, the Thoth Art, and contemporary reimaginings are all pointing to the same invariant truth: balance is not static but dynamic, moderation is not weakness but sophisticated skill, and the middle way is not compromise but synthesis that creates something greater than either extreme alone.

This is why Temperance remains one of the most recognizable and consistent cards across all tarot traditions. You can change the costume, the culture, the artistic style—but you cannot change what Temperance represents. Balance is balance, integration is integration, harmony is harmony, regardless of how you paint it.

The art changes; the principle doesn't. And that principle is this: Sustainable success requires balance. Lasting peace requires integration. True power flows through the middle way. This is not boring—it's mastery. This is not weakness—it's sophisticated strength. This is not compromise—it's alchemy that transforms opposites into gold.