lettre bâtarde
calligraphy
Also known as: bâtarde, littera bastarda
Quick Summary
Lettre bâtarde
Lettre bâtarde by Henri de Ferrières, from his Livre du Roy Modus et de la Reine Ratio, c. 1435; in the Pierpont Morgan Library, New York City (M.820, fol. 16v).
The term "lettre batarde" refers to a Gothic letter style characterized by rounded angles. This style, also known as "bâtarde," is a French round handwriting that developed in the early 17th century. It is considered a "bastard letter" due to its mixed parentage, combining formal black letter with casual cursive script. This style was used extensively in French vernacular books and is noted for its vivacity, with features like flag-like serifs and a rightward slope.123
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