Height, Breadth and Slope of Writing, from Encyclopédie
1760
Medium
Engraving on cream laid paper
Dimensions
40 × 26 cm (15 3/4 × 10 1/4 in.)
Classification
engraving
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
148212
Art Historical Context
Step into the Enlightenment era with *Height, Breadth and of Writing*, an exquisite engraving by Aubin from Denis Diderot's groundbreaking *Encyclopédie* (1751–1772). Created in 176, this plate exemplifies the encyclopedia's mission to democratize knowledge, offering precise diagrams on the technical proportions of lettering—essential for scribes, printers, and scholars perfecting the art of calligraphy during a time when clear written communication fueled intellectual progress. Measuring 40 × 26 cm on cream laid paper, work showcases the meticulous craft of 18th-century engraving. Aubin inci...