Chancery hand
Encyclopedia
The term "chancery hand" can refer to one of two very different styles of historical handwriting.
A chancery hand was at first a form of handwriting
for business transactions that developed in the Lateran chancelry
(the Cancelleria Apostolica) of the thirteenth century, then spread to France, notably through the Avignon Papacy
, and to England after 1350 (Fisher et al.:3). This early "chancery hand" is a Gothic hand similar to blackletter
. Versions of it were adopted by royal and ducal chanceries
, which were often staffed by clerics who had taken minor orders.
A later cursive
"chancery hand", also developed in the Vatican but based on humanist minuscule
, was introduced in the 1420s by Niccolò Niccoli; it was the manuscript origin of the typefaces we recognize as italic
.
from the mid-century was employed for writ
s, enrolments, patents and engrossing of royal letters; its use continued for the enrolment of acts of Parliament until 1836.
The English chancery hand was already an arcane specialty by the time of the Restoration. Samuel Pepys
recorded (Thursday 12 July 1660):
work.
It was adapted as the model for the italic type
face developed by Aldus Manutius
in Venice
, from punches cut by Francesco Griffo
and first used in 1500 for the small portable series of inexpensive classics that issued from the Aldine press. In fifteenth-century Italy
the chancery hand was employed in correspondence and everyday business, and for documents of minor formal importance.
In sixteenth-century England, this became known as the "Italian hand" to distinguish it from the angular, cramped and gothic English chancery hand that had developed from the earlier tradition.
Among the historical exponents of this chancery hand, the most famous is Ludovico degli Arrighi
, a scribe in the Papal Curia. He wrote a book on the principles of writing, L'Operina in 1522, that embodies the basic calligraphic principles of the italic calligraphic hand of today.
A chancery hand was at first a form of handwriting
Handwriting
Handwriting is a person's particular & individual style of writing with pen or pencil, which contrasts with "Hand" which is an impersonal and formalised writing style in several historical varieties...
for business transactions that developed in the Lateran chancelry
Apostolic Chancery
The Chancery of Apostolic Briefs , is a former office of the Roman Curia, merged into the Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs by Pope Pius X on June 29, 1908 with the apostolic constitution Sapienti Consilio...
(the Cancelleria Apostolica) of the thirteenth century, then spread to France, notably through the Avignon Papacy
Avignon Papacy
The Avignon Papacy was the period from 1309 to 1376 during which seven Popes resided in Avignon, in modern-day France. This arose from the conflict between the Papacy and the French crown....
, and to England after 1350 (Fisher et al.:3). This early "chancery hand" is a Gothic hand similar to blackletter
Blackletter
Blackletter, also known as Gothic script, Gothic minuscule, or Textura, was a script used throughout Western Europe from approximately 1150 to well into the 17th century. It continued to be used for the German language until the 20th century. Fraktur is a notable script of this type, and sometimes...
. Versions of it were adopted by royal and ducal chanceries
Chancery (medieval office)
Chancery is a general term for a medieval writing office, responsible for the production of official documents. The title of chancellor, for the head of the office, came to be held by important ministers in a number of states, and remains the title of the heads of government in modern Germany,...
, which were often staffed by clerics who had taken minor orders.
A later cursive
Cursive
Cursive, also known as joined-up writing, joint writing, or running writing, is any style of handwriting in which the symbols of the language are written in a simplified and/or flowing manner, generally for the purpose of making writing easier or faster...
"chancery hand", also developed in the Vatican but based on humanist minuscule
Humanist minuscule
Humanist minuscule is a handwriting or style of script that was invented in secular circles in Italy, at the beginning of the fifteenth century. "Few periods in Western history have produced writing of such great beauty", observes the art historian Millard Meiss...
, was introduced in the 1420s by Niccolò Niccoli; it was the manuscript origin of the typefaces we recognize as italic
Italic type
In typography, italic type is a cursive typeface based on a stylized form of calligraphic handwriting. Owing to the influence from calligraphy, such typefaces often slant slightly to the right. Different glyph shapes from roman type are also usually used—another influence from calligraphy...
.
English chancery hand
In medieval England each of the royal departments tended to develop its own characteristic hand: the chancery hand used in the royal chancery at WestminsterPalace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
from the mid-century was employed for writ
Writ
In common law, a writ is a formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction; in modern usage, this body is generally a court...
s, enrolments, patents and engrossing of royal letters; its use continued for the enrolment of acts of Parliament until 1836.
The English chancery hand was already an arcane specialty by the time of the Restoration. Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys FRS, MP, JP, was an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament who is now most famous for the diary he kept for a decade while still a relatively young man...
recorded (Thursday 12 July 1660):
"Italian hand"
The later cancelleresca corsiva ("cursive chancery hand") in which the pen was held slanted at a forty-five-degree angle for speed could also produce beautiful calligraphicCalligraphy
Calligraphy is a type of visual art. It is often called the art of fancy lettering . A contemporary definition of calligraphic practice is "the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skillful manner"...
work.
It was adapted as the model for the italic type
Italic type
In typography, italic type is a cursive typeface based on a stylized form of calligraphic handwriting. Owing to the influence from calligraphy, such typefaces often slant slightly to the right. Different glyph shapes from roman type are also usually used—another influence from calligraphy...
face developed by Aldus Manutius
Aldus Manutius
Aldus Pius Manutius , the Latinised name of Aldo Manuzio —sometimes called Aldus Manutius, the Elder to distinguish him from his grandson, Aldus Manutius, the Younger—was an Italian humanist who became a printer and publisher when he founded the Aldine Press at Venice.His publishing legacy includes...
in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, from punches cut by Francesco Griffo
Francesco Griffo
Francesco Griffo , also called Francesco da Bologna, was a fifteenth-century Venetian punchcutter. He worked for Aldus Manutius, designing that printer's more important typefaces, including the first italic type...
and first used in 1500 for the small portable series of inexpensive classics that issued from the Aldine press. In fifteenth-century Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
the chancery hand was employed in correspondence and everyday business, and for documents of minor formal importance.
In sixteenth-century England, this became known as the "Italian hand" to distinguish it from the angular, cramped and gothic English chancery hand that had developed from the earlier tradition.
Among the historical exponents of this chancery hand, the most famous is Ludovico degli Arrighi
Ludovico Vicentino degli Arrighi
Ludovico Vicentino degli Arrighi was a papal scribe, and type designer in Renaissance Italy.Very little is known of the circumstances of his life. He may have started his career as a writing master in Venice, although this has been disputed....
, a scribe in the Papal Curia. He wrote a book on the principles of writing, L'Operina in 1522, that embodies the basic calligraphic principles of the italic calligraphic hand of today.
See also
- ZapfinoZapfinoZapfino is a calligraphic typeface designed for Linotype by typeface designer Hermann Zapf in 1998. It is based on an alphabet Zapf originally penned in 1944...
, a digital typeface that simulates an italic chancery hand, designed by Hermann ZapfHermann ZapfHermann Zapf is a German typeface designer who lives in Darmstadt, Germany. He is married to calligrapher and typeface designer Gudrun Zapf von Hesse....
. - Italic scriptItalic scriptItalic script, also known as chancery cursive, is a semi-cursive, slightly sloped style of handwriting and calligraphy that was developed during the Renaissance in Italy...