script types Flashcards
(27 cards)
Gothic rotunda examples and characteristics
EXAMPLE: Girolamini seneca
CHARACTERISTICS:
developed in southern Europe (italy and spain most)
rounder, more open form compared to northern gothic textura
minimal use of angular strokes and broken curves
clear separation between letters - more legible than textura
extensive use of illumination
more rounded and open latter forms than gothic textura
minims still present but less compressed
less angularity - more classical proportion
ROTUNDA style helped transition towards humanistic scripts and reflects the regional adaptation of Gothic to italian aesthetic of clarity and fluidity
DATE OF ORIGIN: last quarter of 14th century, southern italy
Gothica Antiqua (fere humanistica) examples and characteristics
EXAMPLE: Auct.f. (bodleian library)
DATE: 15th century Italy
CHARACTERISTICS:
historiated initials and borders
transitional script between gothic and early humanist minuscule - ‘almost humanist’ - softening of gothic sharpness
rounded form begins to emerge, particularly in ‘a’, ‘g’, and ‘e’
less angularity and more fluid than northern gothic
italy early 15th century humanist revival
Gothic Antiqua paleograophic insight
transition in italy from gothic to renaissance humanist writing
humanist inspired by carolingian minuscule - abandoning gothic complexity in favour of clarity - hybrid scripts signal time of aesthetic and intellectual shift
Italian Gothic Rotunda examples and characteristics
EXAMPLE: Merton College MS 300 (Bod library)
CHARACTERISTICS:
Example in particular: features red ink ruling in two columns of 60 lines - features french illumination
more general: regional variant on gothic rotunda in italy and southern france
combines gothic features (minims, compressed letters) with more readable, spacious layout
‘f’, ‘s’, and ‘r’ often have long descenders
slight angularity compared with pure rotunda
italian gothic rotunda (paleographic insight)
certain examples with a stronger french influence are more compressed and denser than other forms of southern gothic rotunda - combination of french illuminations and italian script show cross-regional artistic collaboration
Gothic Rotunda (paleographic insight)
popular in 14th century italy - elegance and legibility made suitable for deluxe manuscripts
used in conjugation with visual narrative art - script and imagery working symbiotically in high end codices
Southern gothic Semitextualis Libraria example and characteristics
EXAMPLE: Yale university manuscript
DATE: 1400, Italy
CHARACTERISTICS:
practical script for book production, less formal than textualis
hybrid minuscule: combines gothic with cursive features (looped descenders, variable angles)
this style is marked as functional, though carefully rendered
evaluate use of varying hand in manuscripts
multiple scribal hands and script types in a single manuscript are common in later medieval codices - sometimes both formal and practice writing styles - perhaps reflecting different phases of copying or different scribes working on various sections
Caroline Minuscule example and characteristics
EXAMPLE: Etruscan Manuscript (Florence) OR Vatican Library Seneca
DATE: late 11th century, Italy OR 12th century, Italy
CHARACTERISTICS: developed in carolingian renaissance (8th-12th century)
uniform letter height, generous spacing and clarity
clear separation of words - innovation at the time
rounded forms, open bowls, symmetrical shapes
‘a’ is ‘two-compartment’ (open), ‘g’ is usually simple and unlooped
caroline minuscule (paleographic insights)
model of early humanist minuscule in 15th century
script reflects carolingian goal of textual clarity and cultural preservation
gothic textura example and characteristics
EXAMPLE: Generali Seneca Manuscript
DATE: late 14th to early 15th century, spain
CHARACTERISTICS: highly angular and compressed letter forms
minims tightly packed, creates dense block of text
minimal spacing between words
common in northern european manuscripts during the gothic period
gothic textura (paleographic insight)
gothic textura prevalent in northern europe - characterised by verticality and compactness
script ideal for maximising the use of parchment - perfect for transcription of larger texts
humanistic minuscule example and characteristics
EXAMPLE: Laurentian Library Seneca
DATE: 15th century, Italy
CHARACTERISTICS: inspired by carolingian minuscule
rounded and open letterforms
clear separation between words
increased legibility compared to gothic scripts
humanistic minuscule
emerged during italian renaissance as scholars sought to revive classical roman scripts - emphasis on clarity as well as elegance - more accessible and readable texts
anglo-saxon minuscule example and characteristics
EXAMPLE: Bodleian Library Seneca
DATE: late 15th century, England
CHARACTERISTICS: distinctive letter forms influenced by old english
use of insular ‘a’ and ‘g’
rounded shapes with slightly slanted orientation
occasional use of majuscule for emphasis
anglo-saxon minuscule (paleographic insights)
used in england before the norman conquest characterised by unique letter forms
reflects insular tradition and anglo-saxon scribal culture
rubrication
use of red ink in titles, headings, or section indicators
illuminated initials
large, often decorated capital letters at the beginning of a section or paragraph - often include gold leaf, intricate patterns or miniature scenes
historiated initials
initials which contain identifiable scenes often related to the text (IE: depiction of Medea inside the M at the start of the text)
marginalia
notes, glosses or drawings in the margins - can be scribal, scholastic or playful
glosses
explanatory notes added by scribes or readers - often written interlinear (between the lines) or in the margins
vellum
prepared animal skin used for writing
littera notabilior
larger or more prominent letter used to mark textual divisions, often painted or rubricated
