Languedoc pattern - Portrait de Languedoc

Published July 09, 2022 • Updated August 25, 2024

The old Languedoc pattern was known at the beginning of the seventeenth century, if not before.

Languedoc-Roussillon, a picturesque coastal region in southern France, stretches from Provence to the majestic Pyrenees Mountains, sharing a border with Spain. The origins of this pattern can be traced back to the early seventeenth century, if not earlier, when it gained popularity in the region. Interestingly, this pattern shares certain figures with cards from other regions of France (and even England). For instance, you may come across a king depicted with a harp or another king wielding an axe (although the suit symbols may differ). The court cards in this pattern are not individually named.

The king of diamonds holds a money bag in his right hand and he holds a sceptre with a crescent (croissant) at the top.

Cards by Lamarque (Toulouse) in the “portrait du Languedoc” 1702-1720. Source gallica.bnf.fr / BnF

Above: 11 court cards by Lamarque (Toulouse) 1702-1720 and a queen of clubs by Grossard (Bordeaux) c.1720. Source gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France • Jeu de cartes au portrait du Languedoc►

Lamarque worked in Toulouse between 1702-1720. After his death his widow continued the business until 1728.

The Languedoc pattern was produced in Toulouse , Carcassone, Béziers and Albi. It shares a common ancestry with other regional patterns, which all evolved from earlier cards. The Languedoc designs are also the same as the Guienne (Guyenne) pattern, except that the Guienne pattern has larger sized cards. Card sizes might vary in neighbouring regions due to local differences in cardmaking workshop traditions. They were also determined by the the number of cards on each block, or printed sheet, say 20 or 24, as decreed by the tax authorities. For further discussion of the origins of the French regional patterns, see Ken Lodge’s blog page 61 and page 62►

Above: Languedoc pattern by Lamarque, Toulouse, c1720. Image from d'Allemagne, Henry-René : Les cartes à jouer du XIVe au XXe siècle, Hachette et Cie, Paris, 1906, vol.1, p.123.

Cards by Grossard (Bordeaux) in the “portrait du Languedoc” c.1720. Source gallica.bnf.fr / BnF

Above: cards by Grossard (Bordeaux) c.1720. Source gallica.bnf.fr / Bibliothèque nationale de France • Cartes de tête d'un jeu au portrait du Languedoc►

See also Bibliothèque nationale de France: Cartes de têtes issues de jeux aux portraits de Guyenne, Gascogne et Languedoc►

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By Simon Wintle

Spain • Member since February 01, 1996

I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.