George Bickham the Elder
Encyclopedia
George Bickham the Elder (1684–1758) was an English writing master and engraver. He is best known for his engraving work in The Universal Penman, a collection of writing exemplars which helped to popularise the English Round Hand
script in the 18th century.
In 1712, Bickham wrote copy books and business texts as there was a strong link between writing
and mathematics
(arithmetic and bookkeeping) instruction in the mid 17th century to early 18th century. Bickham, the Elder, collected from 26 London writing masters in 1733 to create and engrave the penmanship
samples forming the Universal Penman, which was reported to be the most important and popular of copy texts used by writing masters to instruct their pupils. Appearing in Bickham’s, Universal Penman, was this poem by writing master, Samuel Vaux, dated 1734, conveying that poor writing was a disgrace to the beauty of the writer: “An artless Scrawl ye blushing Scribler shames; All shou’d be fair that Beauteous Woman frames.” And then this piece hinting that calligraphy
may have a role in encouraging romance: “Strive to excel, with Ease the Pen will move; And pretty line add Charms to infant Love.” (Monaghan, 2005, p. 281). George Bickham also published The British Monarchy which is a collection of 188 plates of historical notes with 43 plates of views of English and Welsh counties. They are called views rather than maps although they are presented as map-like perspectives with major towns marked.
His son George Bickham the Younger
also followed in the family tradition of engraving.
Round hand
Round Hand is a type of handwriting and calligraphy originating in England in the 1660s primarily by the writing masters John Ayers and William Banson...
script in the 18th century.
In 1712, Bickham wrote copy books and business texts as there was a strong link between writing
Writing
Writing is the representation of language in a textual medium through the use of a set of signs or symbols . It is distinguished from illustration, such as cave drawing and painting, and non-symbolic preservation of language via non-textual media, such as magnetic tape audio.Writing most likely...
and mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
(arithmetic and bookkeeping) instruction in the mid 17th century to early 18th century. Bickham, the Elder, collected from 26 London writing masters in 1733 to create and engrave the penmanship
Penmanship
Penmanship is the technique of writing with the hand using a writing instrument. The various generic and formal historical styles of writing are called hands, whilst an individual personal style of penmanship is referred to as handwriting....
samples forming the Universal Penman, which was reported to be the most important and popular of copy texts used by writing masters to instruct their pupils. Appearing in Bickham’s, Universal Penman, was this poem by writing master, Samuel Vaux, dated 1734, conveying that poor writing was a disgrace to the beauty of the writer: “An artless Scrawl ye blushing Scribler shames; All shou’d be fair that Beauteous Woman frames.” And then this piece hinting that calligraphy
Calligraphy
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"...
may have a role in encouraging romance: “Strive to excel, with Ease the Pen will move; And pretty line add Charms to infant Love.” (Monaghan, 2005, p. 281). George Bickham also published The British Monarchy which is a collection of 188 plates of historical notes with 43 plates of views of English and Welsh counties. They are called views rather than maps although they are presented as map-like perspectives with major towns marked.
His son George Bickham the Younger
George Bickham the Younger
George Bickham the Younger was an English etcher and engraver, a printseller, and one of the first English caricaturists.He produced didactic publications, political caricatures, and pornographical prints. He was the son of the engraver George Bickham the Elder , who published the Universal...
also followed in the family tradition of engraving.