People have turned to tarot cards to answer questions about the unknown for centuries. For art conservators studying some of the oldest surviving decks, the cards can solve mysteries not about the future, but about the past and the artist techniques and pigments used to create them.

"Tarot cards weren't created because they had anything to do with divination or the occult," said Roxanne Radpour, University of Delaware professor in the Department of Art Conservation. "They are fine art, commissioned works of art with a function."

Originally made for gambling and card games, some 15th-century Italian decks were commissioned as luxury wedding gifts. Now, advanced imaging techniques are revealing the artistry behind the miniature masterpieces.