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Centaur

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description Centaur Overview

Centaur is an old-style serif typeface designed by Bruce Rogers in 1914, initially created for a limited edition book published by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The design is directly modeled after the roman typeface cut by Nicolas Jenson in Venice around 1470, featuring a delicate, Renaissance humanist structure. In 1929, the Monotype Corporation commissioned an adaptation for mechanical typesetting, adding an italic series drawn by Frederic Warde.

help Centaur FAQ

What historical type was Centaur based on?

Bruce Rogers based Centaur on the roman types Nicolas Jenson used in Venice around 1470. Its angled stress, open forms, and calligraphic rhythm preserve the character of early humanist printing.

Why is the typeface called Centaur?

Rogers first used the design for a 1915 limited edition of Maurice de Guérin's The Centaur. The book's title subsequently became the name of the typeface.

Who designed the italic commonly paired with Monotype Centaur?

Monotype paired Rogers' roman with an italic designed by Frederic Warde. That italic is based on the work of Renaissance calligrapher Ludovico degli Arrighi.

Is Centaur intended for body text or display use?

It can set refined book text, but its delicate color and distinctive capitals also make it popular for literary titles and headings. Monotype adapted the design for machine composition in 1929.

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