Thursday, January 25, 2024

gothic script = gothic buttress

Missale Bellovacense, vellum leaf from France (late 13th Century). Transitional Gothic Script.

take a look at this missale from late 13th century. what do you see?

the mark of the script reminds one of the architecture of the epoch: 

pointed & angular. the ligatures become more frequent, it's a more efficient manner of writing, perhaps more elegant.

the letters aspire to move upward, into the spiritual heavenly realm. why? because during the 14th century, the "hands" and "feet" of the letters as well as ascenders and descenders become shorter and more robust. the Gothic counters this trend. 

think of the difference between Gothic and Romanic.

isn't this gothic buttress a form of typeface leg?

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