Calligraphy Workshop: Humanist Script and Cartographic Lettering
Renaissance humanist script, map-inspired majuscules and letterforms designed for clarity and harmony. The workshop combines historical examples with hands-on practice and creating your own finished piece.
This calligraphy workshop focuses on Renaissance humanist script as a foundation of European writing culture and its developments in cartographic lettering. We will pay special attention to majuscules found on historical maps—letters constructed for readability and harmony, enriched with refined decorations. The session connects the analysis of historical references with practical, guided exercises.
When: 7 February 2026 (Saturday), 11:00 AM–12:30 PM
Where: Willa Decjusza, 28 lipca 1943 17a Street, Kraków
Instructor: Bogdan Tarnowski
Programme:
About the instructor:
Bogdan Tarnowski is a classical philologist working at the Special Collections Department of the Jagiellonian Library and a lecturer at the Jagiellonian University (programme: Old Book, Special Collections and Archives), specialising in the art and typography of the book. His interests include lettering, calligraphy, ornamentation and historical scripts; he also works with gilding on parchment and paper and creates calligraphic works for institutions and communities.
Organiser: Instytut Kultury Willa Decjusza.
Warsztaty odbywają się w ramach projektu "Historie 360°. 30 lat otwarcia Willi Decjusza” realizowanego dzięki programowi Krajowy Plan Odbudowy dla Kultury.
When: 7 February 2026 (Saturday), 11:00 AM–12:30 PM
Where: Willa Decjusza, 28 lipca 1943 17a Street, Kraków
Instructor: Bogdan Tarnowski
Programme:
- Introduction and a brief presentation on the history of Renaissance script.
- Discussion of exemplars prepared from original 15th-century scripts and core principles of calligraphic writing.
- Exercises aimed at developing an independent piece.
- Creating a calligraphic work on prepared paper.
- Summary and a short show-and-tell of participants’ works.
- Participants receive: a script exemplar sheet, practice materials and their finished work.
- Materials: provided by the organiser.
- Registration: required; places are limited.
About the instructor:
Bogdan Tarnowski is a classical philologist working at the Special Collections Department of the Jagiellonian Library and a lecturer at the Jagiellonian University (programme: Old Book, Special Collections and Archives), specialising in the art and typography of the book. His interests include lettering, calligraphy, ornamentation and historical scripts; he also works with gilding on parchment and paper and creates calligraphic works for institutions and communities.
Organiser: Instytut Kultury Willa Decjusza.
Warsztaty odbywają się w ramach projektu "Historie 360°. 30 lat otwarcia Willi Decjusza” realizowanego dzięki programowi Krajowy Plan Odbudowy dla Kultury.