Inspiring type: Luca Barcellona calligraphy; The Kelmscott Chaucer
~ 13 October 2009 ~
I’ve stumbled on a couple type resources recently. I thought it’d be appropriate to lump them together under the banner of inspiring type, continuing a theme that began with Libro di M. Giovambattista Palatino.
Luca Barcellona Calligraphy & Lettering Art
Luca Barcellona, insofar as I can tell, is a master of calligraphy and lettering art. His Flickr profile simply says, “Scrivo per vivere. Vivo per scrivere.” (I write to live. I live to write.)
Luca’s “Calligrafia” photoset is reservoir of gorgeous hand lettering. This is the kind of stuff I’d give an arm to be able to do. Though that might make it a little hard to do it.
Some favorites are shown below.
The Kelmscott Chaucer
Ty Hatch, who photographed the images you’ll find below, writes:
Toward the end of the 19th century William Morris—considered by many to be the father of the Arts and Crafts movement and the first Designer, I think, of the modern age—published what many consider to be a masterpiece of printing: The Complete Works of Geoffery Chaucer. Chock full of stunning woodcut illustrations by artist Edward Burne-Jones, this gorgeous book was published by Morris’s Kelmscott Press in 1896 just months prior to his death.
Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales was required reading for me in school, as it probably was for several of you, too. Though I wasn’t particularly fond of the book at the time, it’s come up in conversation from time to time since. I’m glad I was exposed to it, and seeing the Kelmscott Chaucer — the result of four years of work, which completely sold out before its publication in 1896 — ignites some interest in revisiting Chaucer’s Tales.
You’ll find all of Ty’s photos in his The Kelmscott Chaucer photoset. Below are a few of these.
4 Comments
Veer: Visual Elements for Creatives.Stock photography, type, and killer tees. Genuinely recommended by Authentic Boredom.
Maybe :)
Wow, that is some intricate art. Way beyond my expertise. The Canterbury Tales brings back fond school memories :)
What incredible artwork. I have tried in the past to dabble in this type of medium but never came close.
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1 Benjamin Alijagić ~ 13 October 2009
Wow! Really inspiring. Thanks for sharing!
Btw, are you planing to make more letterpress posters soon?