Chapter 7: Renaissance Graphic Design

Chapter 7: Renaissance Graphic Design

A Brief History Ancient writing systems Egyptian Hieroglyphics 3200 BC AD 400 Sumerian Cuneiform 3000 BC Greek Alphabet System 800 BC Still used today as technical symbols in domains such as mathematics, science etc.

A Brief History Gutenberg Bible The 1 st Major Printed book Written in Latin, the Gutenberg Bible was printed by Johannes Gutenberg, in Mainz, Germany, in the 1450s Johannes Gutenberg 1398-1468 German Engraver & Inventor of the Mechanical Movable Type Printing Press A Replica of the Gutenberg Printing Press

Graphic Design of the Italian Renaissance - Venice Nicholas Jenson was responsible for the development of the first full roman typeface, which was based on humanistic characteristics and was highly legible. Nicholas Jenson 1420 1480 Typographer, French Engraver, Type Creator of the Roman typeface

Nicholas Jenson Typography from Eusebius s De praeparatione evangelica, 1470 Why is Jenson considered to be one of the greatest typeface designers?

Figure 7-1

Graphic Design of the Italian Renaissance - Venice Nicolas Jenson Little Office of the Virgin Mary,1475

Calendarium: Erhard Ratdolt Calendarium (Record Book) 1476 Title Page Know the contents and characteristics of Calendarium? The Renaissance loved is characterized by floral decoration.

Calendarium: Erhard Ratdolt

Calendarium: Erhard Ratdolt

Figure 7-11

Figure 7-12

A page with marginalia from Ratdolt's 1482 printing of Euclid's Elements

Ars Moriendi The Art of Dying Giovanni and Alberto Alvise, title page from Ars Moriendi, 1478. This was the first book to contain fleurons. Define fleuron.

Renaissance Humanism Aldus Manutius: Printer Francesco da Bologna aka Griffo: Type designer typographic page from Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, 1499

Renaissance Humanism Be able to discuss why Aldus Manutius was an important printer at this time in history.

Renaissance Humanism Inscriptions on Trajan's column in Rome Bembo type sample from Manutius' edition of De Aetna, 1495.

Renaissance Humanism

Aldus Manutius Aldus introduced small and handy pocket editions of the classics. He commissioned Francesco Griffo to cut a slanted type known today as italic. Aristotle printed by Aldus Manutius, 1495-98 Aldus Manutius (1449 1515) Humanist, Italian Printer & Publisher He and his grandson are credited with introducing a standardized system of punctuation.

Printer s Trademark The swiftest of sea creatures combines with an anchor to signify the epigram, Make haste slowly. Aldus Manutius, Aldine Press s trademark, c. 1500. A is a word, phrase, symbol, or design, or combination of words, phrases, symbols, or designs that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods or services of one party from those of others.

Aldus Manutius Aldus Manutius, illustrated spread from Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, 1499.

Aldus Manutius What are the graphic qualities of this book that make it a masterpiece among incunabula period books?

Aldus Manutius

Figure 7-22

Figure 7-23

Figure 7-24

First Italic Font This book was set in the first italic type font and became the prototype of the pocket book. What is this font based upon? Cancelleresca script Aldus Manutius, Page from Virgil s Opera, 1501 3.75 by 6 inch

Lodovico degli Arrighi, pages from La operina da imparare di scrivere littera cancellaresca, 1522.

Geoffroy Tory Enlightenment & Abstraction French painter and designer Geofroy Tory believed that the proportions of the alphabet should reflect the ideal human form. He wrote, the cross-stroke covers the man s organ of generation, to signify that Modesty and Chastity are required, before all else, in those who seek acquaintance with well-shaped letters. Geoffroy Tory (1480 1533) Humanist and Engraver - His life's work has heavily influenced French publishing to this day.

Innovation in France Geoffroy Tory What was Tory s full list of accomplishments? Translating, editing, and publishing Latin and Greek texts Introducing the apostrophe, accent, and cedilla to the French language Writing books on the proportions of roman letters. Les heures de Jean Lallemant, 1506

Geoffroy Tory Tory explained that the broken jar symbolized one s body, the auger symbolized fate, and the book held shut by three padlocked chains signified the book of a life after it is shut by death. This trademark symbolized the sudden death of his daughter, Agnes at 10 yrs old. pot cassé emblem, 1524

Geoffroy Tory Initial Design This illustrates the criblé techniques, which is one of your vocabulary terms.

Figure 7-34

Geoffroy Tory The Art and Science of the Proportion of the Attic or Ancient Roman Letters. According to the Human Body and Face The most important and influential work of this career. Champ Fleury, 1529

Geoffroy Tory Champ Fleury, 1529 What was the Chmap Fleury important to the evolution of graphic design? It is a fully illustrated handbook where the author explains how to draw Roman characters. What did this multi-volume publication contain?

Geoffroy Tory Champ Fleury Pictorial forms used to create an alphabet. Tory became the most influential graphic designer of his century. fantastic alphabet from Champ Fleury, 1529

Claude Garamond Early Typographers 1490 1561 French Publisher, Type Designer & Punch Cutter Credited with the introduction of the apostrophe, the accent and the cedilla to the French language. He was an assistant to Geoffroy Tory Several contemporary typefaces, including those currently known as Garamond, Granjon, and Sabon, reflect his influence.

Claude Garamond What were Claude Garamond s contributions to the evolution of graphic design? Famous Gallic Queen Helianorae, 1531

Christophe Plantin What was Christophe Plantin s contribution to graphic design? Contributed to Renaissance book design through the use of copperplate engravings for illustration Christophe Plantin, Page from Humanae Salutis Monumenta, 1569 72

Copperplate Engraving Abraham Bosse, Printing Shop The Plate Printer, 1642 What interesting purposes were these engravings used for?

Engraving process https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqvghhs15ha

The Whole Book of Psalms 1639 This was the first book designed and printed in the English American colonies by Stephen and Matthew Daye. This book lacked refinement, but the different type faces emphasized the importance and meaning of the words nicely. Stephen and Matthew Daye, title page for The Whole Booke of Psalmes

The Seventeenth Century 1600 to 1699 The 17 th century was a relatively quiet time for graphic design innovation. Since a large stock of ornaments, punches, and woodblocks were still available from the 1500s there was little incentive for printers to commission new graphic materials. It was a time of being happy with the status quo.

The Seventeenth Century 1600 to 1699 Not much innovation occurred in typography during the seventeenth century in Europe. Since there was an abundance of stock ornaments, punches, matrices, and woodblocks, there were few incentives for printers to commission new graphic material.

Figure 7-50

Conclusion Books became an important commodity in 17 th century. Printers skills increased, literacy increased and the humanistic spirit was sweeping over the world.

Essay Question Describe the process of engraving. Explain the advantages of engraving over woodcut and discuss the influence engraving had on type design and illustration.