Round hand
Encyclopedia
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. Characterised by an open flowing hand and subtle contrast of thick and thin strokes deriving from metal pointed nibs, its popularity rapidly grew, becoming codified as a standard through the publication of printed writing manuals.
developed the italic cursiva script. When the Apostolic Camera was destroyed during the sack of Rome
in 1527 many masters moved to Southern France where they began to refine the renaissance italic cursiva script into a new script, italic circumflessa. By the end of the 16th century italic circumflessa began to replace italic cursiva. Italic circumflessa was further adapted into the French style rhonde in the early 17th century.
By the mid 17th century French officials were flooded with documents written in various hands at varied levels of skills and artistry. As a result officials began to complain that many such documents were beyond their ability to cipher. France's Controller-General of Finances
took proposals from French writing masters of the time, the most influential being Louis Barbedor (article currently only available on Wikipedia in French) who had published his Les Escitures Financieres Et Italienne Bastarde Dans Leur Naturel circa 1650.
After examining the proposals the Controller-General of Finances
decided to restrict all legal documents to three hands, namely the Coulee, the Rhonde, and a Speed Hand sometimes simply called Bastarde.
In England Edward Crocker had been publishing copybooks based upon French rhonde in the 1640s. In the 1680s John Ayres
and William Banson popularized their versions of rhonde after further refining and developing it into what had become known as English round hand
style.
, George Shelley and George Snell helped to propagate Round Hand's popularity, so that by the mid-18th century the Round Hand style had spread across Europe and crossed the Atlantic to North America. The typefaces Snell Roundhand and Kuenstler Script
are based on this style of handwriting. George Snell was particularly noted for his reaction to other variants of roundhand, developing his own Snell Roundhand which emphasised restraint and proportionality in the script.
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...
and 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"...
originating in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in the 1660s primarily by the writing masters John Ayers and William Banson. Characterised by an open flowing hand and subtle contrast of thick and thin strokes deriving from metal pointed nibs, its popularity rapidly grew, becoming codified as a standard through the publication of printed writing manuals.
Origins
During the Renaissance writing masters of the Apostolic CameraApostolic Camera
The Apostolic Camera, or in Latin Camera Apostolica or Apostolica Camera, is the central board of finance in the Papal administrative system, which at one time was of great importance in the government of the States of the Church, and in the administration of justice, led by the Camerlengo of the...
developed the italic cursiva script. When the Apostolic Camera was destroyed during the sack of Rome
Sack of Rome
The city of Rome has been sacked on several occasions. Among the most famous:*Battle of the Allia – Rome is sacked by the Gauls after the Battle of the Allia*Sack of Rome – Rome is sacked by Alaric, King of the Visigoths...
in 1527 many masters moved to Southern France where they began to refine the renaissance italic cursiva script into a new script, italic circumflessa. By the end of the 16th century italic circumflessa began to replace italic cursiva. Italic circumflessa was further adapted into the French style rhonde in the early 17th century.
By the mid 17th century French officials were flooded with documents written in various hands at varied levels of skills and artistry. As a result officials began to complain that many such documents were beyond their ability to cipher. France's Controller-General of Finances
Controller-General of Finances
The Controller-General of Finances was the name of the minister in charge of finances in France from 1661 to 1791. The position replaced the former position of Superintendent of Finances , which was abolished with the downfall of Nicolas Fouquet.- History :The term "contrôleur général" in...
took proposals from French writing masters of the time, the most influential being Louis Barbedor (article currently only available on Wikipedia in French) who had published his Les Escitures Financieres Et Italienne Bastarde Dans Leur Naturel circa 1650.
After examining the proposals the Controller-General of Finances
Controller-General of Finances
The Controller-General of Finances was the name of the minister in charge of finances in France from 1661 to 1791. The position replaced the former position of Superintendent of Finances , which was abolished with the downfall of Nicolas Fouquet.- History :The term "contrôleur général" in...
decided to restrict all legal documents to three hands, namely the Coulee, the Rhonde, and a Speed Hand sometimes simply called Bastarde.
In England Edward Crocker had been publishing copybooks based upon French rhonde in the 1640s. In the 1680s John Ayres
John Ayres
-Life:Ayres was of very humble origin, but the date and place of his birth are unknown. Coming up from the country a poor lad, he became footman to Mr. William Ashhurst , alderman of London, then resident at Hornsey', who was knighted in 1689, and lord mayor of London in 1693-4...
and William Banson popularized their versions of rhonde after further refining and developing it into what had become known as English round hand
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...
style.
Golden age
Later in the 17th and 18th centuries, English writing masters including George BickhamGeorge Bickham the Elder
George Bickham the Elder 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....
, George Shelley and George Snell helped to propagate Round Hand's popularity, so that by the mid-18th century the Round Hand style had spread across Europe and crossed the Atlantic to North America. The typefaces Snell Roundhand and Kuenstler Script
Kuenstler Script
Kuenstler Script is a formal script typeface. The primary weight was designed in 1902 by the in-house studio at the D Stempel AG foundry. Originally titled Künstlerschreibschrift which translates from German to English as handwriting of artists. The face is based on late nineteenth century English...
are based on this style of handwriting. George Snell was particularly noted for his reaction to other variants of roundhand, developing his own Snell Roundhand which emphasised restraint and proportionality in the script.