Jack of Spades: Russian Guard

This hand-colored engraving from a Parisian playing card deck depicts a Russian guard in formal military dress, holding a staff or scepter. The figure wears a crimson tunic with gold trim, a distinctive plumed headpiece, and dark breeches—elements typical of mid-nineteenth-century imperial Russian uniforms. The spade suit symbol appears in the upper left corner. Created by B.P. Grimaud of Paris, the deck reflects the fascination with military pageantry and international court life during the Second Empire under Napoleon III. Such decorative playing cards served both recreational and decorative purposes in upper-class households, combining artisanal printmaking with popular cultural imagery.