Microsoft has added the Michelangelus font to its Microsoft 365 library as of October 8. The typeface was developed by the Fabbrica di San Pietro in collaboration with the Italian design agency studiogusto to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the consecration of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
The design process involved analyzing original manuscripts in the Vatican archives to capture the geometric structure and rhythm of Michelangelo's handwriting. The lowercase italics are based on the artist's personal script, while the uppercase and roman characters draw inspiration from his signature on the Pieta and inscriptions within the basilica.
The font set includes four distinct styles: regular, italic, bold, and bold italic. Each style contains over 500 characters. Since no digital samples of the artist's handwriting existed, the designers extrapolated the character set from his known letter forms, such as deriving the numeral 1 from the letter I.
Users can now download the Michelangelus font from the official Microsoft website. It is intended for use in digital content, printed materials, and signage within the basilica.
