Virgil / Bucolica, Georgica, et Aeneis.

Baskerville_Virgl_Aene.jpg

Creator

John Baskerville (1706–1775)

Title

Virgil / Bucolica, Georgica, et Aeneis.

Coverage

Birmingham

Publisher

John Baskerville

Date

1757

Subject

Quarto

Description

John Baskerville left a promising career as a writing master and letter carver to go into japanning, where he made his fortune. He then decided to devote his resources and efforts to type design and printing, which he sought to raise to a higher level. Baskerville addressed every aspect of the art, from ink and presses to, importantly, type and paper.

His fonts take their cue from the rationalized letterforms of the romain du roi, but freed from the directives of a scientific committee, and with his experience as a calligrapher, Baskerville was able to produce much more lively and successful fonts.

Relation

LENDER: Jerry Kelly