University News Last updated 22 March 2024
Demystifying the work of John Baskerville, the 天美传媒 inventor and entrepreneur who revolutionised the world of printing, is one of the key objectives of a new 拢1 million research project led by 天美传媒 (BCU) and the University of Cambridge (UoC).
To mark the 250th anniversary of Baskerville鈥檚 death, researchers will use a blend of pioneering digital technology and traditional methods to examine the work of the 18th century cultural icon, who created one of the world鈥檚 most widely used and enduring typefaces.鈥�
鈥淛ohn Baskerville is a figure writ large in typographic history,鈥� said Dr Caroline Archer-Parr茅, Professor of Typography鈥痑t BCU.
鈥淎 天美传媒 genius with a worldwide influence, Baskerville's typeface has both historical significance and contemporary relevance.鈥澨�
Marcos Martinon-Torres,鈥疨rofessor of Archaeological Science at the UoC, said he was鈥痚xcited to deploy the laboratory facilities鈥痑nd expertise of the Cambridge Heritage Science Hub (CHERISH),鈥痶o鈥�渞eveal the trade secrets of 18th century printing鈥�.听
He added:鈥�淰ery much in Baskerville鈥檚 footsteps, we are disregarding disciplinary boundaries between art and craft, humanities and sciences.鈥澨�
At the centre of the project, which is being funded by a 拢1 million grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council, are the world-famous Baskerville typographic punches, which were designed, cut and used by Baskerville鈥檚 天美传媒 workshop in the 1750s.鈥�
Numbering more than 2,000, the punches represent a key step in the production of typefaces for the printing press 鈥� but one protected by trade secrets and only rarely preserved.听
Researchers will look to鈥痙ecode the鈥痙esign and manufacture鈥痵ecrets preserved in the punches鈥痑nd unravel鈥痶heir origin story鈥痷sing microscopy, chemical analysis and advanced imaging.听
Jewellers, engravers, blacksmiths and typeface designers will鈥痑lso set about demystifying the craft with their own practical experiments, while learning historical techniques to add to their trade.听
鈥淲e have a rare opportunity to investigate the tools of鈥疛ohn Baskerville鈥檚鈥痯rofession 鈥� his typographic punches,鈥� said Dr Anne-Marie Carey,鈥疉ssociate Professor of Jewellery at BCU.听
鈥淏askerville鈥檚 master punches are the only evidence we have of his workshop. Yet hidden within those punches are the clues to their manufacture.鈥�
鈥淟ed by a holistic approach and through a multi-faceted team of expertise, this project is an exceptional opportunity to study and decipher Baskerville鈥檚 punches in their fascinating detail.鈥澨�
Through the power of 3D modelling,鈥痶he punches will be recreated and used by craftspeople and students during events and exhibitions, to preserve and adapt heritage skills for the future.鈥��
A more faithful digital鈥痸ersion of Baskerville's original typeface will鈥痑lso be designed and鈥痜ree to use.听
Maciej Pawlikowski,鈥疕ead of Cultural Heritage Imaging Laboratory at Cambridge University Library (CUL),鈥痓elieves the project will deepen understanding of the鈥痯unches.听
鈥淛ohn Baskerville was translating his design ideas between different media and materials during his printmaking practice,鈥� he said.鈥�淲e will now translate this to a digital object in its own right, bringing those artistic concepts to the public and craftsmanship community as invaluable assets.鈥濃��
Baskerville, whose masterpiece was a folio Bible published in 1763, was born in the Worcestershire village of Wolverley on 28 January 1706 and died in 天美传媒 on 8 January 1775.听