Capitalis Rustica is an historical script dating back to approx. the first century BC (the Gallus fragment). It is one of the earliest Roman broad edge pen shapes, and some claim it even predates its more famous ‘big brother’, the capitalis monumentalis found in inscriptions (but also on walls, written with a broad edged brush).

We often find the rustica next to monumentalis, but also close to it’s ‘little brother’, the Roman cursive.

Rustica survives the sack of Rome, and survives in later manuscripts, all the way up to the time of Charlemagne. 

Today, rustica is one of the least known calligraphic scripts, but it is not without calligraphic nerve and vitality.

This workshop gives an introduction to a basic rustic, but also to possible variations to it, using advanced techniques, to make it into a modern, living and breathing script.

All levels are welcome. Join in!