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Giovanni Francesco Cresci

Or Gianfrancesco Cresci. Milanese calligrapher who worked in Rome during the later 16th century, and became the Vatican's scriptor. Author of Essemplare (1560) and Il Perfetto Scrittore (Venice, 1569-1570), and influential Italian writing master. The full title of the book is II perfetto Scrittore Di M. Gio. Francesco Cresci Cittadino Milanese Doue se veggono i veri Caratteri & le natural forme di tutte quelle sorti di lettere che a vero scrittor si appartengono. Con alcun'altre da lui nuouamente ritrouate : Et i modi che deue tenere il mastro per ben insegnare.

BibliOdyssey describes a type scandal from that era: Gianfrancesco Cresci heralded the onset of the Baroque by categorically rejecting what he considered were the useless adornments to some of the alphabets produced in the 1540s by the master calligrapher, Giambattista Palatino. Palatino responded by adopting letterforms similar to Cresci's (whose first work was published in 1560 in Essemplare) only to be accused by Cresci of lacking the necessary skills to produce the set himself, instead hiring an engraver for the work. It was quite the calligraphy/typography scandal of the 16th century. I believe the modern scholarly consensus, from manuscript comparisons, vindicates Palatino.

Some images of his alphabets: Italian Gothic Capitals (1570), Italian Initials (1570), Italian Minuscule (1570). Another minuscule from 1570.

Digital fonts directly based on his work include the Trajan all-caps typeface Cresci LP (1997, Garrett Boge).

Pictures of his roman capitals. Images from Il Perfetto Scrittore.

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Type design in Italy ⦿ History of type ⦿ Ornamental caps typefaces ⦿ Typefaces inspired by the Trajan column in Rome ⦿