Medieval Calligraphy: Its History and Technique
by Marc Drogin
This comprehensive history and instruction manual presents 12 scripts from about the 4th through the 15th centuries along with their histories. It provides reproductions of period examples of both major and minor hands along with explicit directions for writing them. The hands covered include: Roman Rustic, Uncial, Roman Half-Uncial, Insular Majuscule and MInuscule, Luxeuil Miniscule, Carolingian Minuscule, Early Gothic, Gothic Textura Quadrata, Gothic Littera Bastarda, and two more.
It also shows you how to duplicate medieval techniques with modern writing tools. Thorough instructions and sharply detailed, full-page photographs of the original alphabets explain pen angles and stroke sequences for each letter and capital. There are also instructions for writing medieval numbers.
It includes a spirited historical account of the evolution of the alphabets as well as fascinating background material on the scribes, their world, and how writing styles changed over a thousand years. The text explains how and why different styles evolved, why certain devices, codes and abbreviations were used, and how form and function interacted.
The author is a professional calligrapher of medieval styles, as well as an illuminator, writer, and teacher.
232 illustrations
Page Count: 224
Dimensions: 8 3/8 x 11 1/4
Paperback
ISBN 0-486-26142-5
Your Price $16.95
