Posted on April 30, 2010.
Calligraphy: The art of beautiful writing calligraphic writing is consistent in style and built proportionately letters and letters and words spaced correctly. The name derives from the Greek kailos beauty and graphein write.
fine calligraphy was distinguished from the functional writing since antiquity. In ancient Greece, professional scribes copied texts important civil and religious literature in elegant script. In many eastern countries, especially China and Japan, calligraphy is considered the largest visual arts and is considered an art form that is superior to painting.
In Europe, during and 5th centuries books were written in fourth place in capitals (upper case) from classical Roman inscriptions ( Trajan 's Column in Rome is the outstanding example). The rustic capitals in the same period were written more freely, the pen is at a severe angle, so that the scribe has been less inclined to change the angle of special flourishes. Uncial capitals, more rounded, were used from the 4th to 8th centuries. During this period the cursive is also under development, and interaction of this house with his hands, coupled with the need to accelerate the writing led to the form of small letters (lowercase) .
During the 7th century the half-uncial was developed with ascending and descending strokes and was adopted by all countries under Roman rule. The cursive script developed differently in different countries. In Italy, the emphasis has evolved and has become the model for the font in italics. Printing and the typewriter has reduced the need for calligraphy in the West.
During the Middle Ages calligraphy, was a highly specialized technique practiced by monks and scribes professionals. medieval calligraphers developed a complex gothic or black letter, script. This heavy, angular writing, even if it was imprecise and difficult to read, became the book of the hand recognized throughout Europe and was copied by the early printers. There are many examples of medieval illuminated manuscripts Gothic script.
The profession of calligraphy reached its zenith in Renaissance Italy. Renaissance scholars, however, noted the complexity of Gothic script inappropriate for the transcription of classical texts. They have developed a less complicated style based on the script previously developed during the reign of Charlemagne Carolina. The script of the Renaissance, known as neo-Caroline, or humanist, was the forerunner of modern writing.
With the invention of the printing and the rise of literacy in the 15th century, calligraphy formal literary decreased. A more relaxed, flowing script was developed for use in business correspondence and in everyday life. In 1522, Ludovico Arrighi wrote the first manual of scribes writing non-professionals.
In the 17th century, the calligraphy as an art and profession had virtually disappeared.
In 19th century England, William Morris and Owen Jones has tried unsuccessfully to revive interest in a beautiful handwriting.
The modern interest in calligraphy is mainly the result of the work of Edward Johnston (1872-1944), professor at the Ecole Centrale des Arts et Metiers in London, who wrote the text and remarkable modern calligraphy, Writing and lighting and Letters (1906), which became the foundation of modern graphics. Johnston has shown that the best medieval alphabets could be reproduced by the proper use of traditional tools, especially the feather edge, and adapted for modern.
The present letter forms have gradually evolved from originals shaped by the tools used in their manufacture - the flat brush on paper chisel on stone, the stylus on wax and clay and reed, and that .