Fournier - Baraja Neoclásica 1810

7/08/2026

Fournier - Baraja Neoclásica 1810

José Martínez de Castro (active between 1795 and 1819) made his debut in the playing card trade with this magnificent work, which achieved great success and went through numerous editions. The earliest runs were published by Martínez de Castro himself, but later editions (from roughly 1810 onward) were printed by Josef Monjardín, Clemente Roxas, and Andrés Castellanos.

Similar designs were used in the 1850s by Manuel Bertschinger y Codina and Sebastián Comas y Ricart, both based in Barcelona. The artwork was also copied by Italian cardmakers in the 20th century. A facsimile was published by Heraclio Fournier under the title Baraja Neoclásica, featuring the Clemente Roxas version—which is the specific variant presented in this post.

While the Aces boast intricate, rich designs, a slight inconsistency emerges in their compositions. They can be divided into two distinct groups: Coins and Cups on one hand, and Swords and Batons on the other. The latter feature much more elaborate backgrounds, depicting a military camp on the Ace of Swords and a mountainous landscape on the Ace of Batons. Furthermore, in both cases, the suit symbols are held up by cherubs—most striking is the one on the Ace of Swords, whose wings take the shape of playing cards.

The Aces of Coins and Cups, while equally elaborate and detailed, lack these ornamental elements. By contrast, a similarly styled deck—Four Continents—featured in a previous post, maintains a consistent design throughout, making it well worth comparing them side by side.

The Fours also feature richly depicted scenes: a kissing couple on the Coins; a reclining woman with a cherub resting on her stomach on the Cups (this one also sporting card-shaped wings); a duel to the death on the Swords; and a resting man on the Batons, whose expression vaguely recalls the figure from Goya’s Black Paintings, Saturn Devouring His Son.

The court cards feature exquisitely rendered figures dressed in attire reminiscent of 17th- and 18th-century European courts. The exception is the suit of Swords, where the Knave, Knight, and King are depicted in full armor.

As is the case with other historical facsimiles, this deck is not intended for use at the card table, but rather as a collector's item or a display piece. Nevertheless, its finish and handling match the usual standards of modern decks manufactured by Fournier.