Hi Roger,
I think it depends on what you mean by 'italic'. Some forms of what is
loosely called 'italic' were generally considered very simple, but the
humanistic 'Italian' hands of the sixteenth-century universities were very
elegant, and difficult. Cf Martin Billingsley, in _The Pens Excellencie or
the Secretaries Delighte (London, 1618)_, f. 10r:
The third [kind of hand] is Roman, which hath his denomination from the
place where (it seemes) it was first written, viz: Rome. A hand of great
account, and of much vse in this Realme, especially in the Vniuersities:
and it is conceiued to be the easiest hand that is written with Pen, and
to be taught in the shortest time: Therefore it is vsually taught to
women, for as much as they (hauing not the patience to take any great
paines, besides phantasticall and humorsome) must be taught that which
they may instantly learne; otherwise they are vncertaine of their
proceedings, because their mindes are (vpon light occasion) easily drawne
from the first resolution.
The fourth is Italian, a hand in nature not much different from Roman, but
in manner and forme, of much incongruity thereunto. This is a hand which
of late is growne very vsuall, and is much affected by diuers: for indeed,
it is a most excellent and curious hand, and to bee written with singular
command of hand; else it will appeare but very ragged and vile; and if the
Pen be taken off in coniunction of the letters, it is neither approueable,
nor Pen-man-like, but meere botching which is detestable.
You can read Billingsley more at large on the English Handwriting website:
http://wwww.english.cam.ac.uk/ceres/ehoc, or
http://scriptorium.english.cam.ac.uk.
andrew
Andrew Zurcher
Queens' College
Cambridge CB3 9ET
United Kingdom
+44 1223 335 572
hast hast post hast for lyfe
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