New learning resource for P6 -S1 exploring role of rubricator artist for early printed books
Added at 21:28 on 03 April 2025
The Leighton Library now has a new learning resource for use in primary 6 to S1 exploring the role of a rubricator, an artist who had the task to add decorated red capital initial letters to the early printed books books, after they had been printed, in the spaces in the text which the printer had left for the artist. The space where a decorated capital initial red letter was to be added was called a lacuna.
The oldest book in Dunblane’s historic Leighton Library was published in 1504 (a textbook on the book of Psalms). This is an example of a printed book which never had the initials added in, but still has the empty spaces which were left for the artist to add the red coloured capital letters (and you can see the tiny guide letters which were printed so that the artist would know what letter they were to add in red ink, but this book never had these red capital letters added by an artist).
Click on the link below to download the learning resource called "Lacuna Lettering - from Blank to Beautiful." This resource was created by Leighton Library Volunteer Guide Malcolm Wilson.
https://www.leightonlibrary.org.uk/lacuna-lettering