Topic: Ferrara

The D'Este family of Ferrara is identified as the primary driver behind the Sola Busca deck's creation. Adams traces the family's lineage from the Italian Renaissance to the Hanoverian monarchs of England, including George I, II, and III. This suggests a continuous network of power—sometimes called the Brotherhood of Saturn—that transitioned from the Renaissance to the British Empire and eventually the United States.

The concept of "self-fashioning" in the Renaissance involved adopting a specific style and posture to survive the highly competitive and dangerous environment of the courts. Nicola III D'Este, for example, had children by many different women, leading to intense violence and competition among heirs. The Sola Busca deck's page cards reflect this poise of invincibility required for survival in such an unruly social structure.

The House of Este, the family associated with the deck, rose from obscurity to rule Ferrara and eventually linked to the Hanoverian monarchs of England. This lineage suggests a long-lived network, sometimes called the Brotherhood of Saturn, that maintains influence across the rise and fall of different empires. The tradition of ritual practice captured in the cards is believed to have been carried forward through these elite genealogical connections.