laurie's ink
WHERE LETTERS COME TO LIFE!
TM
So your little one has been writing on the walls...again? Don't despair! A flourishing calligrapher could be right in your home. You may wonder what crayons have to do with calligraphy, but believe it or not, this art form can be traced back to ancient times when pictures on cave walls were man's only form of written communication. The walls not only spoke to people back then, but over time became a vital link to mankind's past.
Fast forward several centuries ahead. It's 200 B.C. and the Roman alphabet is now in use. Scribes, which were official writers/recorders for royalty, are part of the upper class because of the important role they play in society. Because literacy levels were quite low back then, scribes were invaluable, helping kings record laws, history, and even generate books. Scribes were so important that once in a while they even had a say in what laws were passed!
In time, scribes began to add fancy curves and spirals to their writing. Borders and decorations soon followed. Calligraphy was emerging in official documents as scribes began to "write outside the lines" of the Roman alphabet. Kings and other high officials began to favor enhanced lettering for their manuscripts.
Calligraphy was invaluable to record the history of the Dark Ages. Celtic scribes of that era used the art form to record Christian texts. Manuscripts were enhanced and embellished with illumination, the use of illustration and color in text, and gliding, the addition of gold.
"For a thousand years, writing was in the hands of specialists who raised the craft of calligraphy to the level of fine art, glorifying the word of their God."
- Margaret Shepherd
In the 15th century, the Italian Renaissance helped bring a new appreciation to the art form. Among the many developments in the Arts during that period, the popular font we know as italic was born. During the same era, papermaking developed in Central Asia, slowly replacing the once invaluable scribes.
Between the 15th and 18th centuries, typography, the process of printing from an inked raised surface, was developed. This was a main factor in helping spread literacy. As you can imagine, scribes slowly faded away as machines began to facilitate writing. Eventually, calligraphy pens were stilled for numerous years with the countless technological advancements of the Industrial Revolution.
In the 19th century, calligraphy was once again revived with England's Arts and Crafts Movement. New tools and techniques helped facilitate the age-old art form. Calligraphy slowly re-emerged and the pen was once again put to use. It continues to be a popular form of artistic expression. Even today, in this age of constant advancements with the computer and other technology, calligraphy has made a comeback as many choose to create and preserve memories with this delicate art.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
-Butterworth, Emma M. The Complete Book of Calligraphy. New York: Crowell Publishers, 1980
-Callery, Emma The Complete Calligrapher. London: New Burlington Books, 1993
-Shepherd, Margaret Learn Calligraphy: The Complete Book of Lettering and Design. New York: Broadway Books, 2001
