THE EMBRACE OF THE RED QUILL AND THE BLACK LETTER FORM: The Historic Significance of Hand-Painted Initial Letters in Manuscripts and First Printed Books in Florence

A centuries-old tradition of manuscript production in Renaissance Florence was unique and valued throughout Europe. As printed books were introduced into the Florentine life, the hand-painted initial letters were the connecting thread that linked the early printed books to the art of the manuscript. This connection was possible in Florence because of its geographical location; the elite class, such as the rulers of Florence, the Medici family, who admired and collected manuscripts for their libraries; and the concentration of numerous artists. Between 1490-1510, the manuscript illumination found a new life in the woodcuts that transformed colorful miniature paintings into the black-and-white interpretations produced by the printing press.

Author

• Shukhin, Tatiana

Language

• en

Keyword

• Renaissance
• Florence
• First printed books
• Florentine woodcuts
• Manuscripts
• Initial letter

Date created

• 2013

Type of Work

• Master's Thesis

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Art and the Book

Degree

• M.A.

Advisor

• McAleer-Keeler, Kerry
• Deal, Georgia

Committee Member(s)

• Hurtt, Sarah Noreen
• Smith, Casey
• O'Neil, Dennis
• Kharchi, Antje

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/41687h48d