Miniature Book News, Number 76, March 1993 Page: 3
8 p. : ill. ; 22 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Number 76 16 Dromara Rd., St. Louis, Mo. 63124 March. 1993
ESTHER INGLIS, CALLIGRAPHER
Calligraphy is the art of fine writing.
It is an art form that had its origins
way back in history, practiced then
and now in many countries, and has
been gaining in popularity in the U.S.
in recent years.
Calligraphic writers of books in miniature
format are rare indeed, and
women writers in medieval times rarer
still. One such person was Esther
Inglis, about whom very little has
been written, but whose output is
highly prized today. She is the only
known woman calligrapher of her time
in England or the Continent.
Inglis was born Esther Langlois in
1571 of parents who fled to London
a few years earlier from France as
a result of the persecutions of Protestants
which ultimately led to the
infamous Massacre of St. Bartholomew
a year after Inglis' birth.
The family settled in Edinburgh in
1574, receiving assistance as poor
persons. Esther Langlois Anglicized
her maiden name to Esther Anglois
at some point, in 1599 she called herself
Esther Anglois, Francoise, and in 1604
she changed to Esther Inglis. About
1596 she had married Bartholomew
Kello, a clerk in the Holy Orders,
but she retained the name Inglis in
all her work until her death in 1624.
The Kellos had 6 children and livedin strained financial circumstances
throughout their lives.
Inglis' calligraphic work attracted
Sir David Murray, who sponsored her
productions by obtaining royal and
wealthy patrons. Her scripts were
not commissioned, but offered to individuals,
and then the manuscript would
be dedicated in flattering terms to
the purchaser. Apparently English
and Scottish royalty in those days
cherished specimens dedicated to
themselves.
By any standard her calligraphy, which
she had learned from her mother,
is extraordinary. Walter Hart
Blumenthal says, in an article entitled
Lady With a Feathered Quill-Her
Calligraphic Books Now Precious
Rarities that appeared in the October
1963 American Book Collector, that
"(Inglis') virtuosity consisted in the
clarity of her tiny script, and in the
range of lettering from italic, Roman,
capitals, to contemporary cursives
and swank initials."
Inglis used texts for the most part
from English and French Psalms, quoting
scriptural passages, and quatrains
or moral verses of "Seigneur de Pibrac"
(Guy du Four, 1529-84), a celebrated
diplomat and poet of his day.
A.H. Scott-Elliot, together with Elspeth
Yeo, has written the fullest account
of Esther Inglis to date, from whichTitle page from Quatrains Du Sieur De Pybric, 1599. Manuscript book by Esther
Inglis. Actual size.3
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Edison, Julian I. Miniature Book News, Number 76, March 1993, periodical, March 1993; St. Louis, Missouri. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9422/m1/3/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.