Claude Garamond

Claude Garamond, also Garamont, (* 1499 (or 1490 ) in Paris, † 1561 in Paris) was a French type founder, typographer, engraver and publisher. He created the font Garamond still in use today.

Claude Garamond learned the craft of writing cutting at Geoffroy Tory, he was a student and employee of the Paris engraver and printer Antoine Augereau, some of the work Garamond be assigned in different sources Augereau - in any case, an influence of his teacher until his death at the stake in 1534 very likely.

Garamond first roman typefaces may have originated around 1530/1531, as writings appeared for the first time in four different Parisian printing of a new type, which could be attributed to Claude Garamond. The preparations for this are backdate to the year 1525.

Taking as reference the work of its most important customers, the printer Robert Estienne, the development of the Italian Antiqua is clearly visible: the lowercase letters are an improvement of the designs Francesco Griffo ( Polyphilus - Type), the italics are based on the alphabets Lodovico Arrighi that were used as well as the writings of Aldus Manutius Griffo.

The Antiqua had thanks Garamond work finally been released from their model, the chisel font, it appears lighter and more elegant than the Italian predecessor. Until the 17th century Garamond designs remained the benchmark for the engraver throughout Europe and the printing of Holland via Germany to Italy with printed writings of the French master. In 1539, he was awarded by Royal Decree his own type foundry in 1543 and received the title of royal type founder for the then famous Greek font " Grecs du Roi ".

The 1540 published Antiqua Italic and based on the Bembo by Francesco Griffo and remained about 250 years, the leading journals in Europe.