Links

Articles, books, collections related to the medieval codex in general, the illuminated initial in particular.

General introductions

• Lighting the Way - How illuminated initials guided medieval readers through books. Well illustrated introduction

Manuscript illumination

• Understanding Illuminated Manuscripts: A Guide to Technical Terms, the online version of the book by Michelle P. Brown
• The Decorated Letter by J.J.G. Alexander

Late Anquity

• Vergilius Augusteus, the Earliest Codex Written Entirely in Roman Square Capitals, and the Earliest Codex with a Large Ornamented Initial Letter at the Beginning of Each Page
• Vergilius, Opera
• Vergilius Augusteus
• Codex Argenteus, (Browse).

Digitized manuscript collections

• Highlights from the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
• Collections at the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek Munchen. For example: Book Illuminations from the Reichenau Monastery

Scripts, writing, typography

• Blackletter resources by Dr. Dan Reynolds has a short history and classification of blackletter scripts plus an extensive list of books and online resources for more information.
• Rubrication design examples, a gallery of typographic and graphics design examples of rubrication, a classic pattern of using red versus black for emphasis.

Lombardic letters

• Wat zijn eigenlijk lombarden?. ‘Lombarden, paragraaf- en semiparagraaftekens in Middelnederlandse epische teksten’, Willem Kuiper, 1980
• Goudy Lombardic Capitals

Digital fonts

• KPS Fonts, 74 free fonts divided in four groups: paleographic, typographic, interpretations, inventions. The paleographic collection represents a timeline of western scripts, from the second to the eightteenth century.

Books on lettering

• Lettering as drawing : contour and silhouette, by Nicolette Gray
• Medieval Calligraphy: Its History and Technique a comprehensive history and instruction manual by Marc Drogin

Academic Journals

• Peregrinations, journal of medieval art & architecture.

_ #calligraphicspace #initials #printmaking #research