Writing & Illuminating & Lettering

by Edward Johnston

Overview

One of the founders of modern calligraphy, Edward Johnston regarded lettering, writing, and illuminating as not only desirable ends in themselves but also as practical avenues to mastery of typography, decoration, and design. In this classic, profusely illustrated guide, he distilled his expertise into a series of easy-to-follow lessons that will benefit any student of calligraphy, book design, or art.
Part I is devoted to writing and illuminating. Early chapters cover the fundamentals of acquiring a formal hand: choosing paper, ink, and quills; holding the pen; spacing and planning a manuscript; and more. The author then turns to the techniques of producing a manuscript book: tools and materials, methods and proportions, margins, and other methods. Part II offers a detailed discussion of lettering: the qualities of good lettering, methods of construction and arrangement, spacing, proportion, and other matters. Two appendixes cover the uses of lettering in book bindings, wall inscriptions, monograms, and title pages as well as the techniques involved in lettering on metal, wood, and stone.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780486144078
Publisher:	Dover Publications
Publication date:	05/25/2017
Series:	Lettering, Calligraphy, Typography
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	464
File size:	64 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Edward Johnston (1872–1944) is regarded as one of the fathers of calligraphy and his books and teachings are credited with reviving the art of modern penmanship and lettering. The sans-serif Johnston typeface that appeared throughout the London Underground prior to the 1980s was his most prominent design. Johnston influenced a generation of British calligraphers and typographers, notably Eric Gill, and his students founded the Society of Scribes & Illuminators.

Table of Contents

ContentsEditor's Preface vAuthor's Preface xiAddenda & Corrigenda xxi Part IWriting & IluminatingChapter I The Development of Writing  1Chapter II  Acquiring a Formal Hand: (1) Tools  14Chapter III Acquiring a Formal Hand: (2) Methods  27Chapter IV  Acquiring a Formal Hand: (3) Models  36Chapter V  Acquiring a Formal Hand (4): Practice  51Chapter VI  Manuscript Books  64Chapter VII  Versal Letters and Coloured Capitals  78Chapter VIII  Black & Red  93Chapter IX  Laying & Burnishing Gold  111Chapter X  The Use of Gold & Colours in Initial Letters & Simple Illumination  138Chapter XI  A Theory of Illumination  159Chapter XII  The Development of Illumination  170Chapter XIII  "Design" in Illumination  180 Part II LetteringChapter XIV  Good Lettering -- Some Methods of Construction & Arrangement  201Chapter XV  The Roman Alphabet & Its Derivatives  232 Appendix AChapter XVI  Special Subjects  301Appedix BChapter XVII Inscriptions in Stone  353Notes on the Plates  371The Plates  383Index  424