Claude Garamond

Claude Garamond

Claude Garamond (c.1480–1561) was a Parisian publisher. He was one of the leading type designers of his time, and several contemporary typefaces, including those named Garamond, Granjon, and Sabon show his influence.

Garamond was disciple of Simon de Colines, later he was assistant of Geoffroy Tory, who was concerned with human proportions and those of the ancient majuscules, as well as their mutual relation.

Garamond came to prominence in 1541, when three of his Greek typefaces (e.g. the Grec du roi (1541)) were requested for a royally ordered book series by Robert Estienne. Garamond based them on the handwritings of Angelo Vergecio, the King's Librarian at Fontainebleau, and his ten-year-old pupil, Henri Estienne. According to Arthur Tilley, the editions are "among the most finished specimens of typography that exist." Garamond's Roman were created shortly thereafter, and his influence rapidly spread throughout and beyond France during the 1540s.

Garamond's name was originally spelled with a 't' at the end, but under the influence of standardized French spelling, the 'd' became customary and stuck.

[edit] References

• Tilley, Arthur (1900). "Humanism under Francis I". The English Historical Review 15 (59): 456–478. 
• Lane, John A. (August 2005). "Claude Garamont and his Roman Type". in Adobe Systems (ed.). Garamond Premier Pro: A Contemporary Adaptation. Adobe Systems. pp. 5–13.  A survey of Claude Garamond's career and typefaces, of Robert Granjon's italic types which were combined with Garamond roman types, and a brief summary of subsequent revivals through Garamond Premier Pro.
• Kapr, Albert (1983) (in German). Schriftkunst. Geschichte, Anatomie und Schönheit der lateinischen Buchstaben. Munich. 

[edit] External links

• Font Designer - Claude Garamond

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