Franco Maria Ricci’s first title, which he published in 1963, was a work of writing in the literal sense of the term: Giambattista Bodoni’s Manuale Tipograﬁco. Bodoni, a creator of refined typefaces prized for their elegance and legibility, had opened a printing house in 1790.

History

docking-the-macaroni-or-the-butchers-revenge-1773

Docking-the-Macaroni-or-the-Butcher's-Revenge,-1773

The Grand Tour was one of the main shapers of a common “European taste”. Though it largely concerned the higher and more privileged classes, and took different forms depending on the area, it impacted every sphere of culture: the arts, music, literature and even clothing. A curious and somewhat eccentric manifestation of this aspect were the so-called <em>macaroni</em>. This epithet identified and sometimes mocked English gentlemen who dressed in the Italian fashion. The famous architect Robert Adam described his attire like this: <em>A most Frenchified head of hair, loaded with powder, ornaments his top: a complete suit of cut velvet of two colors, his body—which is set off by a white satin lining; white silk stockings and embroidered silk gushets, his legs: Mariguin pumps with red heels, his feet: stone-buckles like diamonds shine on his knees and shoes. A gold-handled sword, with white and gold handle knot, ornaments his side: Brussels lace, his breast and hands…</em>

Macaroni

macaroni-op-een-schilderijenveiling-charles-grignion-i-after-michel-vincent-brandoin-c-1771_rijksmseum_public-domain

Macaroni-op-een-schilderijenveiling,-Charles-Grignion-(I),-after-Michel-Vincent-Brandoin,-c.-1771_Rijksmseum_Public-Domain

macaroni-veilingmeester-anonymous-1772-rijksmseum

Macaroni-veilingmeester,-anonymous,-1772,-Rijksmseum

matthew-darly-and-mary-darly-a-macaroni-1771

Matthew-Darly-and-Mary-Darly,-A-Macaroni,-1771

the-macaroni-print-shop-edward-topham-1772

The-Macaroni-Print-Shop,-Edward-Topham,-1772

matthew-darly-and-mary-darly-the-lilly-macaroni-publisher-1771

Matthew-Darly-and-Mary-Darly,-The-Lilly-Macaroni-Publisher,-1771