Giambattista Bodoni was born February 16, 1740, in Saluzzo, Italy, and died in Parma, Italy, in 1813. He was an Italian typographer, typesetter, and printer.http://www.nndb.com/people/863/000094581/ As a boy, Bodoni worked in his father's printing establishment and was taught how to engrave wood. In an effort to preserve the oriental languages that he picked up, he recreated and distributed their alphabets.http://www.nndb.com/people/863/000094581/ Giambattista Bodoni was the youngest of four sons.
Bodoni is known for creating the first modern typeface featuring clear and simplified forms.http://www.identifont.com/show?22Q The Bodoni typeface was created in 1790 and is still used in contemporary design today.http://www.biography.com/articles/Giambattista-Bodoni-9217190 The typeface utilizes contrast through stress, heavy lines and level serifs. The typeface is recommended for display and headlines.http://www.media5live.com/Bodoni/bodonibio.htm Bodoni's foray into typography began when he was employed by the Vatican as a master pressman, responsible for printing their literature.http://www.media5live.com/Bodoni/bodonibio.htm
Life and Career
In 1766, Bodoni was commissioned by the Duke of Parma to start a printing establishment in Parma, Italy. Bodoni started Officina Bodoni his own type foundry in 1770, and one year later he published his first book about typography called, Fregi e Majuscole. In 1782, Charles III of Spain named Bodoni his court's typographer. Bodoni ended up working with Charles III for six years.http://www.linotype.com/683/giambattistabodoni.html Bodoni published Manuale Tipografico. It contained a variation of 78 fonts designed by Bodoni. In 1790, the Duke of Parma once again commissioned Bodoni. This time Bodoni was to publish several volumes of Greek, Roman, and Italian classics in over 215 different typefaces.http://www.linotype.com/683/giambattistabodoni.html Bodoni worked for the Duke of Parma until his death in 1813. His life's work was published posthumously, in two volumes by his wife in 1818.http://www.susanellsworth.com/copywriting/bodoni.html
Giambattista Bodoni Fonts
List of fonts designed by Bodoni.http://www.identifont.com/show?22Q
- EF Bauer Bodoni
- Bauer Bodoni
- EF Bodoni
- Bodoni Antiqua
- Bodoni Classico
- ITC Bodoni Ornaments
- Bodoni Poster
- Linotype Gianotten
- CG Poster Bodoni
Bodoni's Typeface
This video features Bodoni's typeface, Bodoni. It is recognized as the first modern font to convey a simple and clean structure using contrast for balance and weight. The typeface features serifs that are level with the ascenders and baseline, and that are relatively thinner than fonts from the previous era. The typeface also features stressed vertical lines and weighted curves.
Bodoni's Typeface
This video features Bodoni's typeface, Bodoni. It is recognized as the first modern font to convey a simple and clean structure using contrast for balance and weight. The typeface features serifs that are level with the ascenders and baseline, and that are relatively thinner than fonts from the previous era. The typeface also features stressed vertical lines and weighted curves.
References
Fast Facts
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Born
February 16, 1740
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Birth place
1813, in Saluzzo, Italy
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Spouse
Margherita
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Children
no
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Alma mater
Self-taught
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Bodoni usage
Mamma Mia! poster, Hilton Hotels collateral, Nirvana's logo, Carnegie Mellon UniversityCarnegie Mellon University's logo.
