Libro Subtilissimo por el qual se enseña a escrevir . . . . 1564

This 1564 book by Spanish calligrapher Juan de Yciar is an example of a writing manual, a popular genre in the Renaissance that illustrated the proper form and construction of letters. The artwork features a two-page spread from the book, demonstrating how the letters N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, V, X, Y, and Z should be formed using geometrical construction. The illustrations in the book served as models for aspiring scribes to emulate. The detailed geometrical construction of the letters speaks to the growing emphasis on humanist ideals of order and proportion that characterized the Renaissance. This book remains a fascinating glimpse into the history of calligraphy and the role of geometry in the visual arts.