The Revolution of the Hand: Scripts and Manuscripts in Poggio Bracciolini's Florence
Roberta Ricci
The Revolution of the Hand:Scripts and Manuscripts in Poggio Bracciolini's Florence Roberta Ricci* (bio) Non ha l'ottimo artista alcun concettoc'un marmo solo sé non circonscrivacol suo superchio, e a quello arrivala man che ubbidisce all'intelletto.1 —Michelangelo labour writer is refreshment reader.The one depletes body, other advances mind.Whoever you are, therefore, do not scorn but rather bemindful work labouring to bring profit. —The Silos Beatus, twelfth century study antiquity its language led humanists develop new standards calligraphy by reviving previously used script known as antique minuscule. At time when Greek Roman culture had come matter most, scholars became occupied preoccupied with classical texts adopted lower-case during Carolingian Renaissance from eighth century, which most early manuscripts were copied. This essay will shed [End Page S-193] further light upon manuscript tradition notion written language, particularly reference fifteenth-century concern for clarity penmanship. theme this renovatio scriptoria can be illustrated hic et nunc Strozzianus 96, copied Bracciolini himself. Click larger view View full resolution Figure 15.1. Coluccio Salutati, De verecundia, hand (Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, MS f. 1v) S-194] I begin an examination transition "barbaric" Gothic script, littera moderna, circulated until thirteenth older simpler antiqua. While analyzing re-emergence style lettering, reflect role that book played historical evolution, offering possible points reflection on revival various graphic conventions within Italian peninsula, tune what Malcolm Parkes calls modern "grammar legibility": is, "the decorum ensure message text [is] conveyed medium."2 Poggius Florentinus (1380-1459), proudly called himself, was influential intellectual, pivotal figure history humanism, well-known scholar, prolific writer. In David Rundle's words, Florentine human humanists."3 1405 made scriptor Papal Curia; 1410 he took Secretary and, finally, 1453 Chancellor Florence, serving seven pontiffs his fifty years papal service. He joined generation civic who glorified learning (studium), literacy (eloquentia), erudition (eruditio) chief concerns man, government common business citizens. Later, hunter, found identified many manuscripts, including Lucretius's Rerum Natura4; hence we owe travels own pen discovery recovery ancient commentaries. Moldy inaccessible, these lay hidden European libraries hundreds years. Moreover, point essay, young been employed Salutati copyist there mastered art writing. His earliest surviving humanistic round dated around 1402-03, 1420 significant number scribes copying books scrittura chiara, examine here. Towards end fifteenth also official capacity throughout Europe becoming standard type printed books. argue talked politics their hands, asserting only principle imitatio renewed experience associated S-195] ideas. change writing system reflected political statement, it shifted attention agent ideological tool, through could appropriate past all...
Modern Language Notes