GOTHIC TEXTURA SCRIPTS

          GOTHIC TEXTURA SCRIPTS
           By Lady Symonne de la Croix
                           11.3.20

Both the Quadrata and the Prescisus evolved from the Early Gothic script and date from the end of the 12th century. 
Paleographers are uncertain which of the two came first. It is possible that the Prescisus originated in southern England and spread to France, where scribes were inspired  to develop Quadrata. [Harris 1995 p55]

 TEXTURA QUADRATA  (Black Letter, Old English) became extremely popular in the 13th century and remained so for the duration of the medieval era. With the advent of printing in the mid 15th century, the script became a model for the first typefaces- resulting in the public's continued familiarity with it in printed books well into the Renaissance, while the scribes had, for the most part, abandoned the script. [Drogin 1989 p.137]
The name indicates the woven appearance of the lines in text, "Textura" meaning "an even effect in weaving". The angularity of the strokes, particularly the turned base of the vertical strokes, resulted in "feet" or diamond shapes. [Harris 1995 p.50]

Exemplar:  Oxford, Bodleian Library. , Ms. Rawl. Liturg. e.40, folio 40 recto. 1386. 
Textura Quadrata letters including two versions of a, r and s. Notice the arrival of 'v'.


Exemplar: Cambridge,Magdalene College, Ms. 2981. Alphabet of English origin c.1400.
Note fine hairline work; the half-r and long-s; an indication that the y was still dotted; an example of ligatured 'est'; a mark predating the use of dots over i's (end of line 5). [Drogin, 1989 p.138]

 TEXTURA PRESCISUS (Textualis Prescissa, Black Letter) paralled Quadrata. The two scripts used the same Capitals and Versals. 
The chief difference between them is indicated by the adjunct to the Prescisus's name, vele dine pedibus, which translates as "with its feet cut off" [Harris. 1995 p.55 ]
Exemplar: (left) The Luttrell Psalter 1325-35 and (right) The Ormesby Psalter 1300. Both written in Prescisus script. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY 
-Drogin, Marc. Medieval Calligraphy. Its history and technique. Dover Publications, Inc. New York 1989.
-Harris, David. The Art of Calligraphy. A practical guide to the Skills and Techniques. Macmillan Canada. Toronto, Canada 1989]

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