Adapted by many type designers of genius, it has been the standard typeface of book typography. Nicolas jenson typography what roman power slowly built, found strength and beauty within this typographers formal creations. In 1470 he opened a printing shop in venice, and, in the first work he produced, the printed. Itc legacy includes a complete family of weights from book to ultra, with old style figures and small caps, making this a good choice for detailed book typography or multifaceted graphic design projects. Apr 04, 2017 nicolas jenson was born in sommevoire, in northeastern france, probably in the 1430s. Nicolas jenson was a successful printer in his time, but his most significant contribution to the field has been in the field of typography, or the study of how words are shaped, spaced, and placed on a page. Jenson is one of the earliest old style typefaces, which are defined by low contrast between thick and thin strokes. In september 1480 printer and typographer nicolas jenson nicholas jenson died in venice. Jan 11, 2016 many years ago i collaborated on a typeface design based on the same sourcenicolas jenson the 15th century printer and type designer. Jenson s design and the very similar roman types cut by francesco griffo c. In 1458 he went to mainz to study printing under johannes gutenberg.
I mentioned it to my girlfriend who interpreted it as one too many typography books the night before. Morris then created a black letter typefaceemulating medieval manuscripts,troy, and a smaller version, chaucer. Interesting stories about famous people, biographies, humorous stories, photos and videos. The last will and testament of the late nicolas jenson. Roman type cut in 1469 by nicolas jenson, a french typographer working in venice. In 1458, king charles vii of france, having received information of the invention of printing in maintz, sent nicolas jenson or jensonius, an engraver of coins and medals in. See more ideas about typography, typography poster and typography layout. Capitals of nicolas jensons roman typeface, from a translation in fiorentina in italian of pliny the elder, published in venice in 1476. The typography of print as it arrived from germany was in the gothic form of heavy, gross lettering as seen in the gutenberg bible. Jan 20, 2017 januarys cohort is named after the type designer nicolas jenson b. Nicolas jenson master of the french royal mint at tours, in october 1458 nicolas jenson was dispatched by king charles vii to mainz, germany, to learn the new art of printing.
But if you set a book in jenson s 1470 roman, no one would bat an eye. This is the first bible to be issued from jenson s press, of this latin bible, issued in 1479, pope sixtus iv conferred upon him the honorary title of count palatine. A specimen of nicolas jenson s archetypal roman typeface, from the laertis, published in venice ca 1475. Of the french printers of the era from nicolas jenson came nearly a hundred of the finest books produced in the fifteenth century. Later research in the 20th century, which has more or less become common consent, gives it to johannes gutenberg. Carl vii sends jenson to mainz to learn the technique of movable. This book still remains a prototype for quality typography today. The forms are based on those of the famous renaissance printer nicolas jenson. Nicolas jenson sg fonts free download onlinewebfonts. This type was born of the latenineteenthcentury quest to create a modern revival of nicolas jensons humanist roman of 1470, long held by scholars to be both the origin and the apogee of the venetian roman, and which has inspired designers from william morris to robert slimbach to attempt types based on jensons graceful proportions. Bruce rogers originally designed the exquisite, classical centaur for the metropolitan museum in 1914.
Anatomy of typography typography terms typography love typography letters types of lettering hand lettering lettering ideas letter anatomy type anatomy cant leave the letter r without a couple more illustrations, both from the catich volume mentioned before the origin of the serif. Nicolasjensonsg regularosf font free truetype and opentype. Today, we turn to 10 essential books on typography, ranging from the practical to the philosophical to the plain pretty. Book bound in white blindstamped cloth with spine lettering matching jacket. Itc legacy serif the itc legacy serif typeface family was designed by ronald arnholm in 1982 as an homage to the roman type of nicolas jenson. The serifs are exaggerated to emphasize the handmadequality of calligraphy. History of graphics design test 2 flashcards quizlet. Jensons highly legible and evenly colored typeface, based upon humanistic scripts, has been. Sweynheym and pannartz 1464 cut the first roman characters that would be improved by nicolas jenson q. Try setting a book in blackletter, these daysyou might as well use runes or klingon for how contemporary it looks.
Nicholas jenson was responsible for the development of the first full roman typeface, which was based on humanistic characteristics and was highly legible. Jenson didnt design typefaces until he was almost 50 he crafted his bestknown roman type around 1470, produced a greek typeface in 1471. Nicolas jenson and the success of his roman type cast. Nicholas jenson has been something of iconic figure among students of early printing since the nineteenth century. Occasionally a second colour, a splendid red, was used, and superbly drawn initials. Try, buy and download professional fonts for desktop, web and apps. The family consists of a range of weights from book to ultra. The book traces centaurs origins to the year 1470, when french printer and type designer nicolas jenson perfected the proportions and spacing of his namesake type. Jan 28, 2017 nicolas jenson, publisher and printer who developed the romanstyle typeface. It taught me a lot of what i know about type today, and slimbachs version has long been a favorite for fiction, memoirs and essays. Nicolas jenson, originally from france, created type in italy that was very legible. Nicolas jenson 14201481 nicolas jenson was one of the first in france to become eminent at printing.
When i was not so well informed about the history of typography than i. His works are relatively obscure today, but his contributions to typography. Jenson acted as master of the french royal mint at tours, and is credited with being the creator of one of the finest early roman type faces. In 1475, he founds his first book trading company, nicolaus jenson. Kelly has taught typography at pratt institute and parsons school of design in new york. Jenson s type was hailed as brilliant and more perfect in form than those of any previous printer. Thomas james cobdensanderson along with partner, photographer and engraver emery walker, established the doves press in 1900 by the banks of the river thames in hammersmith, london. In 1458, king charles vii of france, having received information of the invention of printing in maintz, sent nicolas jenson or jensonius, an engraver of coins and medals in paris, there in order to study this new art. His detailed will made provisions for the continuation of his printing business, and is therefore significant for the history of printing. Mar 24, 2017 jenson s type was hailed as brilliant and more perfect in form than those of any previous printer. Took significant steps toward the totally printed book.
It is known that nicolas jenson was born in sommevoire, france, a town about 150 miles southeast of paris. In 1458, charles vii sent the frenchman nicolas jenson to learn the craft of movable type in mainz, the city where gutenberg was working. Jenson books inc is committed to providing each customer with the highest standard of customer service. Januarys cohort is named after the type designer nicolas jenson b. Jenson was an engraver, printer, and type designer who produced and influenced some of the classics of typography we still use today. Nicholas jenson type specimen by dunwich type, via flickr. It is thought jenson was punch cutter master of the mint for the royal mint in tours or paris.
Capitals of nicolas jenson s roman typeface, from a translation in fiorentina in italian of pliny the elder, published in venice in 1476. Fast forward five hundred years to william morris revival of jenson s type, and subsequently, to rogers perfection of the proportions to create the type employed regularly by institutions like penguin books and the metropolitan museum of art. Buy and download nicolas jenson ot medium, and other highquality fonts for mac and windows publishing. Nicolas jenson was a frenchman who lived in the late fifteenthcentury and ran a. The type is shown here as jenson printed it, but at twice actual size. Theres an especially likable example, written around the 6th century, from the book of maccabees, residing in durham cathedral. The last will and testament of the late nicolas jenson hardcover january 1, 1928. With four weights, all with companion italics, itc berkeley oldstyle works well for books, magazines, and advertising display. It was given widespread release by the british branch of monotype, paired with an italic designed by calligrapher frederic warde and based on the slightly later work of calligrapher and printer. Nicholas jenson 1404 1480 was a french engraver, pioneer, printer and type designer who carried out most of his work in venice, italy.
By 1470, nicholas jensonwho had come to venice from francehad transformed the printed word and created the renaissance book with his slender roman typeface and capital letters. Nicolas jenson building on the work of sweynheym and pannartz, nicolas jenson created an early venetian typeface. Jenson acted as master of the french royal mint at tours, and is accredited with being the creator of the first model roman type. Nicolas jenson when a serious arm injury ended christophe plantin s bookbinding career in the early 1550s, he changed his occupation to printing, and the netherlands found its greatest printer. Master of the french royal mint at tours, in october 1458 nicolas jenson was dispatched by king charles vii to mainz, germany, to learn the new art of printing. Kelly has served as chairman of the american printing history association, president of the typophiles, and has written several books on calligraphy and typography, most recently type revivals. The development of the printing press influenced the development of full typefaces and their production rather than the jobspecific approach that most typography was developed for. The doves press books, which were printed in a type based on nicolas jensons 15thcentury roman, were austere in their typography, eschewing all decoration and illustration and relying for their effect on the beauty of their type, spacing, and presswork. Typography typography gutenberg and printing in germany. This is joseph warren phinneys unauthorized take on william morris 1890s golden type, or morris golden, a chunky interpretation of nicholas jenson s renaissance types. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Nicholas jenson has been something of iconic figure among students of early printing since the nineteenth.
In 1473, he creates a blackletter typeface which he uses in books on medicine and history. See more ideas about typography, history of typography and book design. Nicolas jenson interesting stories about famous people. Among jensen s bequests were his punches and matrices for casting type fonts. Fonts are available in truetype, opentype and web type formats from all the major foundries at discount prices. While arguing that nicolas jenson has become something of a printing cultfigure, lowry does conclude that jensons place at the very beginning of the typographic age gives him a special importance. He is credited with the invention of the first true roman typeface, but he never used roman for ecclesiastical or religious works. Hih sold by stephenson blake as italian old style not to be confused with other types of the same name. American printer, typographer and type designer frederic warde born 1894 in wells, minnesota, usa, died 1939 in new york, usa created the font. Mar 5, 2014 nicholas jenson type specimen by dunwich type, via flickr. Adobe jenson is a contemporary refinement of the typeface designed by nicolas jenson in the 15th century. While arguing that nicolas jenson has become something of a printing cultfigure, lowry does conclude that jenson s place at the very beginning of the typographic age gives him a special importance. He established venices second press shortal after jahannes da spiras death.
Nicholas jenson 1420 1480 was a french engraver, pioneer printer and type designer who carried out most of his work in venice. Cobdensandersons stated intention for the press was, to attack the problems of typography. Typographie 1967 in 1967, iconic typography pioneer emil ruder penned typographie. Nicolaus jenson born 1420 in sommevoire, france, died 1480 in venice, italy type founder, punch cutter, printer, publisher. In 1470 in venice, nicolas jenson designed a highly legible typeface inspired by ancient roman type styles. A specimen of nicolas jensons archetypal roman typeface, from the laertis, published in venice ca 1475. Nicolas jenson began printing in venice with his original roman font from 1470. By the time of charles death in 1461, jenson had still not returned. Typography gutenberg and printing in germany britannica. His company became the world s largest and strongest publishing house and printed a full range of material, including classics and bibles, herbals and. In the mid1920s linotype was pushing the linotype as a machine for creating ornate books in the style of the kelmscott press. The font used for the game title in the box art is very similar to adobe jenson bold, an oldstyle serif typeface drawn for adobe systems by its chief type designer robert slimbach.
A manual of design a bold deviation from the conventions of his discipline and a visionary guide to the rules of his new typography. Classics such as ff din and proxima nova, or try out new typefaces like neue haas unica. Roughly fifteen years after gutenberg printed the first substantial book in mainz in 1455, nicolas jenson of venice produced what has been universally recognized among the most beautiful typefaces ever created. He based the design on the 15th century typefacedrawn by venetian printer, nicolas jenson. This is the ancestor of the type bruce rogerss centaur shown at the top of page 12. Centaur is a serif typeface by book and typeface designer bruce rogers, based on the renaissanceperiod printing of nicolas jenson around 1470. The illumination, done by an unknown artist, is thought to have been for joannes. Nicolas jenson and the rise of the roman letterform, 1989, p. The roman styles of jesnon are based on a text face cut by nicolas jenson in venice around 1470. Johannes gutenberg david carson roman letters design visual design digital motif design graphic design typography ancient art book publishing. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most. This is the first bible to be issued from jensons press, of this latin bible, issued in 1479, pope sixtus iv conferred upon him the honorary title of count palatine. In 1470 he opened a printing shop in venice, and, in. Jenson didnt design typefaces until he was almost 50 he crafted his best known roman type around 1470, produced a greek typeface in 1471.
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