Esther Inglis (1571-1624) was a calligrapher, miniaturist, scrivener, and important national figure whose occasional books of poetry combined maxims, proverbs, and commonplace wisdom with illustrated watercolors of botanical motifs. Born in Dieppe, France to Protestant Huguenots, Inglis’ family left France shortly before the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre (1572). After a brief stay in London, they eventually settled in Edinburgh soon after Inglis’ birth. Her parents, Marie Pressot and Nicholas Langlois, were both scriveners and she learned the craft of calligraphy from her mother. Her father became rector of the French school in Edinburgh with an allowance from James VI. Inglis is thought to have studied briefly at the school, practising and mastering the art of handwriting and…
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Citation: Kısmet Bell, Jameson. "Esther Inglis". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 19 July 2023 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=15086, accessed 31 October 2024.]