Arts >> Art >> Other Art

Learn About Latin Calligraphy

If you're interested in learning how to read or write in the style of medieval or early modern Latin calligraphy or are interested in the development of this writing style, there are plenty of ways to satisfy your curiosity.
  1. History

    • Start off with by reading a well-illustrated history of Latin calligraphy, such as "Latin Calligraphy: An Introduction to Calligraphy" by Veronique Sabard, Vincent Geneslay and Laurent Rebena; "Medieval Calligraphy: Its History and Technique" by Marc Drogan; and "A History of Illuminated Manuscripts" by Christopher DeHamel. Also check out exhibitions of Latin calligraphy through the years by looking at prose and letters (see Resources), Scribeworx and the British Library.

    Reading

    • Reading Latin calligraphy can take time to master. After reading the books or ones similar to those listed above, practice reading by studying manuscripts in facsimile volumes or online. Keep a dictionary handy for words in Latin you do not already know and their variants, depending on the time period. An ideal site for doing this is Cynscribe (see Resources), which links to hundreds of manuscripts that can be viewed and read online.

    Writing

    • To learn how to create Latin calligraphy, look for a local art school in your area that offers calligraphy classes and contact the instructor about your specific interest in Latin calligraphy. You can also learn the basics of calligraphy through a book, such as "The Art of Calligraphy" by David Harris or "Calligraphy of the Middle Ages and How to Do It" by Marc Drogin. Also take a look at online sources such as The Calligraphy Center. Practice following your teacher's or book's instructions and aim to mimic the look of the manuscripts you admire most.

Other Art

Related Categories