Epitaph in Lincoln Cathedral

 Here is calligraphy in a floor epitaph in Lincoln Cathedral. Floor epitaphs were placed especially so people walk on them, but it of course contributed to their wear. It is written in Lombardic versals and dated, however, the date only says MCCC and thereafter it is worn out and not visible. So it could have another C, but certainly no more, as normally a "D" was written instead of five C's. So we have here an approximate date: 14th or 15th century. Still, better than nothing.

Interesting here is use of both "V" and "U" where we today spell "u".

There is a book available, based on this blog.  

On the blog there is, so to speak, more room, one can show more illustrations there. Blogs, however, come and go, there is no certainty that it will be there ten years from now. The book, on the other hand, once you acquire it, will last, one can be sure of that.

Turin museum

Manuscripts you don't normally appreciate these days. There may be some mediaeval book exhibited in a museum, but even if so, it is often open on one page in a glass case. This is the case in Turin Museum, where one can see an exquisite copy of a missal finished (so a comment next to it says) the very year Columbus returned from America. It is a perfect example of the Italian rotunda hand.

In the same museum I found an interesting reliquary with some calligraphy on it, I present it here, too.

There is a book available, based on this blog.  

On the blog there is, so to speak, more room, one can show more illustrations there. Blogs, however, come and go, there is no certainty that it will be there ten years from now. The book, on the other hand, once you acquire it, will last, one can be sure of that.

Calligraphy in the Czech Castle Frydlant

In the northern part of Czech Republic there is a well preserved Castle Frydlant. Among other things there are examples of some old calligraphy. The best ones are descriptions of some portraits, stating who is painted below. I present here just the writing, not the portraits. There is no date but the persons painted were dressed according to 17th century fashion, except Wilhelm Graf Clam Gallas, who has clearly been painted in 19th century.

In the 17th century the Czech lands, as Kingdom of Bohemia, were part of the German empire and as elsewhere in Germany - the fractur script was used.

There also is a renaissance plaque, this time dated, with graceful capitalis quadrata.

There is a book available, based on this blog.  

On the blog there is, so to speak, more room, one can show more illustrations there. Blogs, however, come and go, there is no certainty that it will be there ten years from now. The book, on the other hand, once you acquire it, will last, one can be sure of that.