A Reappraisal of Baskerville’s Greek Types

This chapter discusses the design of John Baskerville’s Greek typeface, and places it in a context of continuity and innovation in Greek typeface design. It reviews the influences on its style in terms of the typefaces considered good models at the time, and the pressures on new styles at the time of its making. The chapter reviews the response to Baskerville’s typeface by historians, other typeface designers, and commentators, and attempts to shed light on its negative reception. It identifies the elements of innovation in Baskerville’s Greek typeface, and concludes with a re-evaluation of his contribution to Greek typeface design.