Die Bücher-Ornamentik Der Renaissance (Vol. I.) (page 1/5)

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Printing press, detail from border

This picture shows two young men working an early hand-operated printing-press. The nearer man is pulling the bar that turns the pole with a screw-thread which in turn presses down on the platen and forces the paper (not visible) into the inked type (also not visible, because it’s under the paper that’s in the press). The curly-haired young man or [...] [more...]

Antique/Vintage Chain-link Border (coloured)

This full-page border is made up of circles linked together like a chain, with a woodcut engraved shaded background. I used orange red and black; the original woodcut is printed in plain black, with no ink (white) where I have the red and orange. [more...]

Decorative initial letter I

A decorative initial capital letter “I” used as a drop cap at the start of a chapter. This was probably cut into the side of a block of wood, which might explain why the letter is not quite vertical; the technique of engraving onto the end-grain of the block came [...] [more...]

62e.—Initial capital letter “E” from Dance of Death Alphabet

This decorative initial letter “E”, or drop cap, is from an alphabet designed by Hans Holbein and dating from 1523. It features a skeleton, representing [...] [more...]

Eros (Cherub with Bow)

An Eros, or cherub with a bow, from this ornate Renaissance border, a woodcut title page of a 1516 book. [more...]