The Art and History of Calligraphy

This stunningly illustrated new book focuses on 76 intricate, expressive and individual examples of calligraphy from the unparalleled collection of the British Library. The author, a renowned expert on the history of the form as well as a fine calligrapher herself, writes – uniquely – from a practitioner’s point of view. Ranging from the Middle Ages, when beautiful calligraphy was a way of celebrating the divine, to the renaissance of the art form by William Morris, to the modern school of calligraphers following in the wake of master typographer Edward Johnston, Patricia Lovett charts the development of calligraphy through the history of European manuscripts. Large-scale full-colour reproductions enable the reader to see the fine detail of each manuscript, and to understand more clearly than ever before the painstaking craft and great artistic skill that were necessary to create these strikingly beautiful pieces of writing.
Now in paperback, this stunningly illustrated book draws on the unparalleled collections of the British Library, as well as numerous world-leading institutions, to highlight 76 important, expressive and individual examples of calligraphy.

Author Biography

Patricia Lovett has written over a dozen books on the subject of calligraphy, with a focus on the practical aspects. She teaches and lectures all over the world explaining how medieval manuscripts were made as well as talking about her own work. She works to commission and produced the Book of Hours for the BBC Wolf Hall series.