Born in Bologna in 1450, Francesco da Bologna, as he was also known, cut letters for one Aldus Manutius who founded the Aldine Press in 1495.
Griffo started off as a goldsmith, but went on to developed the first Roman typeface after studying Roman carved lettering. He didn’t just design the typefaces, he was a punchcutter which meant he cut the metal dies from which the matrices were made from which, in turn, the lead type was cast. Cleary he was a Main Man. He’s also credited with designing the first italic typeface.
His most famous typeface is probably Bembo:
This was cut specifically for an edition of De Aetna written by Cardinal Pietro Bembo, published in about 1496.
Cardinal Pietro Bembo by Titian
Now you know you’ve made it as a writer when they design a whole typeface for your book. [And I guess you know you've made it as a Cardinal when Titian paints your portrait.]
Francesco Griffo died in 1518. It’s thought that he was hanged for killing his brother-in-law, though some say it was his son-in-law that he set about with an iron bar during a quarrel. I don’t know, these typographers do live life on the edge.
1 comment:
The French for Punch, as in punch a hole, is composter, as I found out yesterday on a French train having to punch holes in my ticket. So punch clearly doesn't come from French in this context.
This is a lovely typeface.
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