Over hundreds of years, from the late 4th century to the end of the 16th century, decorated lettering underwent numerous changes; now abstract, now realistic, designs invaded the page with various degrees of flamboyance. Whether expressing divine inspiration, creating fabulous beasts or, in the case of herbals, reproducing naturalistic images of plants, the lettering and alphabets featured in this fabulous book will introduce the reader to a world of fantasy and the delight of copying - even surpassing - the originals.

Ornamental Lettering describes how to copy motifs and experiment with form and colour. At the end of each chapter the themes discussed are illustrated by alphabets or specimen illuminations.

The author, Catherine Auguste, a former student of the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris, has been researching this field for many years. She is a painter of secular illuminations as well as designing and decorating curio cabinets. She now lives and works in Nimes.