Launched in 2006, the Ibarra Real project brought together master typographers, historians, and government institutions to rescue a forgotten treasure of Spanish design and make it freely accessible to the world. The Ibarra Real typeface is a contemporary digital revival of the original type used by Joaquín Ibarra, Spain’s most celebrated 18th-century printer. Ibarra’s edition of Don Quixote (Madrid, 1780), commissioned by the Royal Spanish Academy, is widely considered one of the most beautifully printed books in European history. The type used in this edition, engraved by Jerónimo Gil for the Imprenta Real (Royal Printing House), embodied the height of classical elegance and precision in Spanish typography.
Two centuries later, this timeless letterform has been reborn as Ibarra Real — a modern typeface that retains the grace of its heritage while adapting seamlessly to digital environments.
A Nationally Backed Cultural Initiative
The Ibarra Real project was developed under the artistic direction of José María Ribagorda, a renowned Spanish graphic designer and professor of typography. The project was spearheaded by the Calcografía Nacional, a department of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, in collaboration with the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade, and supported by Microsoft, the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation, and other public cultural bodies.
This institutional collaboration reflects Spain’s commitment to preserving its visual heritage and promoting it as a public resource in the digital age.
Design and Development
The creation of Ibarra Real was not merely a technical exercise—it was a work of artistic and scholarly reconstruction. Ribagorda and his team undertook extensive historical research, examining original engravings and printed texts to faithfully capture the proportions, contrast, and rhythm of the 18th-century type.
The result was a fully functional digital font featuring:
- Roman and Italic styles, optimized for both print and screen
- A full Latin character set with diacritics
- Special ornamental glyphs and vignettes, crafted by contemporary designers in homage to Ibarra’s original embellishments
The typeface preserves the humanist structure and vertical stress characteristic of its era while meeting the standards of 21st-century typography.
Free and Open to the Public
One of the defining aspects of the Ibarra Real project was its commitment to free and universal access. The font was originally distributed via this website, ibarrareal.es, and made available to designers, publishers, educators, and the general public at no cost.
In 2018, the font was released under the SIL Open Font License, rebranded as Ibarra Real Nova. It is now hosted by Google Fonts and available on GitHub, ensuring continued access and adaptability for future generations of typographers and developers.
Key Highlights of the Ibarra Real Project
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Ibarra Real / Ibarra Real Nova |
| Origin | Based on types used in 1780 Don Quixote edition by Joaquín Ibarra |
| Designer | José María Ribagorda |
| Supporting Institutions | Real Academia de Bellas Artes, Ministry of Industry, Microsoft, others |
| Initial Release | 2006 (as Ibarra Real) |
| Font Styles | Roman, Italic, Ornamental Vignettes |
| Distribution | Free and open-source since 2018 (SIL Open Font License) |
| Availability | Google Fonts, GitHub, Real Academia website |
| Legacy | Used internationally; featured in books, exhibitions, and educational media |
A Legacy That Lives On
Although the original ibarrareal.es website has since been retired, its mission has been fulfilled. The Ibarra Real typeface now circulates freely across the web and continues to be used in editorial projects, academic publishing, and cultural exhibitions across the Spanish-speaking world and beyond.
Today, Ibarra Real Nova stands as a lasting testament to Spain’s typographic heritage — not merely as a historical artifact, but as a living, usable typeface that bridges the past and the present.
