Patricia Lovett Knihy

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

The book features a curated collection of manuscripts from prestigious institutions such as the British Library, Bibliotheque Nationale de France, and the Getty Museum. It includes detailed projects accompanied by step-by-step photographs, showcasing the creative process and culminating in stunning images of the completed works. This visual journey highlights the artistry and craftsmanship involved in manuscript creation.