The medieval scripts described on the Sexy Codicology website are those listed in the Art & Architecture Thesaurus[1]. This list serves as a well defined starting point and gives us solid foundations for further expand and describe these medieval scripts. The Art & Architecture Thesaurus follows this hierarchy:
Medieval Scripts
- Beneventan minuscule
- Caroline minuscule
Gothic scripts
- Bastarda
- Gothic cursive
- Textura (Gothic script)
Half uncial
Humanistic scripts
- Antiqua
- Humanistic cursive
Insular scripts
- Insular majuscule
- Insular minuscule
Later Roman cursive
Merovingian scripts
- Luxeuil script
- Merovingian chancery script
Older Roman cursive
Protogothic
Rustic capitals
Square capitals
Uncial
Visigothic minuscule[2]
This list, retrieved from the Art & Architecture Thesaurus Online does not include “Minuscule” and “Majuscule”, as they are defined respectively as Scripts some of whose letters have ascenders or descenders above or below a general base line and top line[3], and Alphabetic scripts whose letters are confined between head and base lines with no ascenders or descenders[4]. Copperplate (script) has also been removed from the list since it represents a style dominant in the 18th century[5] and falls outside of the scope of this “medieval scripts” list.
Additional Resources
- Medieval Writing, by Dr Dianne Tillotson
- Medieval writing systems as listed by Wikipedia.
References & Footnotes