Zenon
CAST · Riccardo Olocco · 2013
A book typeface by Riccardo Olocco rooted in Renaissance proportions, with letterforms derived from 16th-century masters and a global 2-degree slope applied across all glyphs for subtle organic rhythm.
About
Developed from close analysis of Renaissance typography and Robert Granjon's italic models, Zenon moderates its historical sources towards even modern letter widths while retaining the warmth and calligraphic logic of its origins. The italic is a narrow chancery cut sloped at 9 degrees, drawn independently from the roman rather than mechanically obliqued, with deep junctions that give it a lively, spiky character. Eight weights from Book to Black, each with a matching italic, are available as static fonts and variable font files, with variable contrast that shifts from low in lighter weights to pronounced in heavier ones.
Classification
Zenon draws from Renaissance proportions and chancery italic traditions, with letterforms developed from analysis of 16th-century masterpieces including Robert Granjon's italics, placing it firmly in the humanist/Renaissance serif tradition.