Would the font Calligrapher accurately represent the style of writing in the mid 1400s?

Answer 1

Hi! I think it all depends upon how important finding the right 'face' is for the success of your project! I think you can get a bit closer than Calligrapher (if this is to be a well documented research effort). It's more of a marriage between uncial and blackletter than calligrapher is. Anyway... I did some hunting for you and linked some fonts at the bottom... I hope that this helps... and good luck!

After the invention of Gutenberg (1455), the Gutenberg script spread across Europe.In the sixteenth century, the rediscovery of old Carolingian texts encouraged the creation of the Antiqua script (about 1470). Antiqua typefaces are those designed between about 1470 and 1600, specifically those by Nicholas Jenson and the Aldine roman commissioned by Aldus Manutius and cut by Francesco Griffo. Antiqua letterforms were modelled on a synthesis of Roman inscriptional capitals and Carolingian writing. They are also known as Venetian types. During the 13th and 14th centuries the size of writing was generally reduced. It became stiffer, and though in the following century (its last of undisputed sway) the script regained size, the proportions were disagreeably narrowed, and the letters, in lines as rigid and mechanically perfect as a picket fence, have angles sprouting hairlines apparently added with a crow quill afterward. Of this species of formal black-letter book hand, two kinds are distinguished by paleographers. One stands flat and unserifed on the base line and is known as textus prescissus. The other is completed with square or diamond-shaped feet and is referred to as textus quadratus. Though the former, and earlier, variety has superior claims for the calligrapher, the latter is the variety that was carried into printing types and hence into much wider use. In Italy the writing during the same period took on weight, but the curves of comparable book script never became angles. The senior script there was the rotunda, heavy but not pointed. The form persisted for liturgical work both as writing and printing type until late in the Renaissance. The north and the south had, of course, their other kinds of writing for court and business or personal uses. A cursive hand that flourished in France, Flanders, and England rose to favour in the 15th century as a vernacular book script.

Black letter
The style of typeface used by Gutenberg to print his Bible, modeled after the kind of lettering then popular in religious manuscripts of Gutenberg's region of Germany.
http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/exhibitions/permanent/gutenberg/html/6a.html
http://medievalwriting.50megs.com/scripts/examples/textura3.htm#picture
http://medievalwriting.50megs.com/exercises/hours/flhours.htm
http://medievalwriting.50megs.com/exercises/tinyhours/tinyhours.htm
http://medievalwriting.50megs.com/exercises/dutchhours/dutchhours.htm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ebensorkin/sets/72157601975232363/
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/72/CarolingianMinuscule.jpeg

Scroll to Gothic Textura.. it's a free educational/research site: http://www.historian.net/newindex.html
http://www.dafont.com/1454-gutenberg-bibe.font
http://www.dafont.com/bastarda-k.font
http://www.dafont.com/early-gothic.font
http://www.dafont.com/gutenberg-textura.font
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calligraphy