On Wednesday, October 16, 2024, for the International Week of Italian Language in the World 2024, under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic of Italy, the Istituto Italiano di Cultura Toronto in collaboration with the University of Toronto, presented a captivating journey through the centuries-old history of Italian printmaking.
Professor Paolo Granata spoke about the evolution of typography from the pioneering work of Aldo Manuzio, the inventor of the Italic type, to the masterful creations of Alberto Tallone, whom Pablo Neruda hailed as the “hero of the book”.
Prof. Granata’s lecture was followed by a unique show-and-tell presentation by Enrico and Elisa Tallone, son and granddaughter of Alberto Tallone, who continue to honour the legacy of legendary printers and typographers like Aldo Manuzio and Giambattista Bodoni.
Attendees explored the world of typography, the beauty, the anatomy, and the historical significance of type in shaping the modern book and the Italian language as well. Samples and artifacts were on display.