Page:Cyclopedia of Painting-Armstrong, George D (1908).djvu/353

Rh in its angles being accurately rendered, without being rounded off as in the Clarendon. When Egyptian letters are painted on a very large scale all the lines may be made of the same thickness; the letters then have a very striking effect. When of a medium or small size, the down strokes should be rather thicker than the others.

Fig. 77 is an example of condensed Egyptian, and narrower than this the letter should not be used, for if the space be so limited that such a narrow letter is required a sans-serif may be used, and as that character has no projecting feet it will allow of a wider letter being employed.

The characteristic features of what may be called the three great orders of plain letters have been given, and all

who would excel in letter painting should study and practice these until they become quite proficient in them, since all the ornamental letters should be based upon them, the general forms being the same, the difference consisting only in the lines being curved or in the addition of ornamentation.