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2022
Béziers/Avignon. France. 2022
At last, I’m delighted to share some content from beyond Italy. These are my discoveries from a brief visit to the charming towns of Béziers and Avignon in France. While the letters generally adhere to the Roman shape and structure, it’s always intriguing to observe the local nuances and distinctive details that set them apart.
1
This inscription, situated in the Cathedral of St. Nazar in Béziers, France, appears to have been created towards the end of the 19th century. The split endings of the strokes, resembling twigs or vines, impart an exquisite elegance. Interestingly, these details bear a resemblance to the Damasian Capitals found in the Basilica of San Sebastiano in Rome. Additionally, the triangular crossbar at “A” is a recurring motif in this region, as we'll observe in subsequent photos.

Cathédrale Saint-Nazaire, Béziers, France.
2
This nearby inscription from the 18th century has inexplicably gained significant popularity among our contemporaries, judging by the plethora of signatures adorning it. What impression does this inscription leave on you — elegant or robust? At initial glance, it struck me as rather refined, perhaps due to the forms of “R”, “Q”, “S”, and the sharp branches at the end of the strokes. However, upon closer inspection, my perception shifted — medium contrast and rugged shapes convey an opposite impression. The comma in this instance is particularly noteworthy.

Cathédrale Saint-Nazaire, Béziers, France.
3
Despite its significant wear, this Romanesque inscription still exudes a certain charm. Upon closer examination, you can discern the charismatic nature of the letters, with “R” standing out as a personal favorite. Additionally, “A” and “S” offer intriguing details. One can only imagine how expressive and captivating this inscription must have been in its prime years.

Cathédrale Saint-Nazaire, Béziers, France.
4
Expanding on the theme of expressive yet poorly preserved inscriptions, here we find not only remarkable proportions and playful flaring at the ends of the strokes but also a typo, adding an unexpected twist to the overall composition.

Cathédrale Saint-Nazaire, Béziers, France.
5
Exploring old cemeteries when I visit a town has become a bit of a tradition for me. More often than not, I stumble upon intriguing letterforms. The cemetery in Béziers is no exception. Here, we have inscriptions from various gravestones, showcasing letters that share similarities but with subtle distinctions. For instance, certain examples boast rounded shapes, while others lean towards a squarish aesthetic. And take a moment to appreciate this “v”— it exudes a delicate elegance, particularly when contrasted with the robust “R” nearby.

Béziers, France.
6
As I continue to peruse through photos from the Béziers Cathedral, this inscription stands out as the most intriguing and captivating to me. Not only is it challenging to ascertain its age, but I found myself struggling to identify the script itself. Is it Greek, Celtic, Etruscan, some variant of Latin, or perhaps something else entirely?

Thanks to the power of social media, the veil of mystery surrounding this inscription has been lifted. As @coryrockliff pointed out: “Short answer, it’s Latin, but the initial ‘H’ is in the shape of a menorah, and at the bottom it says ‘שלום על ישראל’ (peace unto Israel) in Hebrew.”

Cathédrale Saint-Nazaire, Béziers, France.
7
Here, we see a robust interpretation of Imperial Roman capitals. There’s very little contrast, and the letters boast massive wedge-shaped serifs — it’s hard to describe them as delicate. Yet, I find their charm lies precisely in this rugged quality, as they could easily fit into a contemporary typeface. What’s also fascinating is observing the various corrections, which are quite obvious here.

This inscription appears to have been created in the mid-17th century, around the time when the construction of this cathedral was completed. It pays tribute to the patron of this endeavor — Cardinal Mario Filonardi.

Chapelle de la Visitation, Avignon, France.
This article is a part of the Instagram project @lettersearch, curated by Yulia Gonina. Through her extensive travels, Yulia meticulously collects and categorizes historical inscriptions, offering insightful descriptions alongside stunning visuals. For the latest updates follow @lettersearch!
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