Chapter Eight - An Epoch of Typographic Genius

The eighteenth century was a time of tremendous typographic growth and originality. In Paris, a committee of scholars was to established restore the quality of early printing by designing new letter forms using 'scientific' processes. To construct the new letter forms, a square was drawn, divided into a grid of sixty-four units. Each of these was only further divided into thirty six units, for a grand total of 2,304 itty bitty squares. The committee then began to create mathematical letter forms rather than those created by hand, this meant measuring out each form using drafting instruments. When creating italics, an even smaller grid pattern was used! The final production was called Romain du Rol. However, this new type face could only be used by the Royal Printers. So other typographers made similar fonts with distinct differences, to avoid confusion.

But the major problem with type was the fact that each committee had its own form of measurement. In 1737, Fournier le Jeune published the first table of properties and a specimen book. This presented over 4,600 characters and styles. What I would like to know is more about Jeune, in the book it states that he published his books at the age of thirteen! How could a thirteen year old publish such a powerful graphic design book?

Another intresting part of this chapter deals with the creation of the rococo style. Beautifuly lavished natural organic shapes decorated every page of text in the style of Louis XV, in pastel colors combined with ivory and gold. A good representation of the Sun King and his courty.