Roberto

With dimensions of 390mm x 500mm, the Roberto format has a surface area of 195,000 sq mm or 0.195 sq meters. The name comes from early branding watermarks depicting a figure that paper historians believe to be the likeness of famous 15th century Italian papermaker Roberto di Niccolò. This refers to Roberto's seminal role in developing essential papermaking techniques in France, with the size bearing his mark used to produce some of the country's first high grade prints, manuscripts, and woodcut illustrations. Although ISO standards now predominate, Roberto still finds specialty use in fine art for watercolors, pastels, charcoal sketches and limited print runs wanting a historical artisanal format. Its dimensions bridge small personalized pieces and larger studio works. So despite its obsolete production status, Roberto endures as an acknowledgement of French paper evolution - representing pioneering development from esteemed masters like Roberto through to modern industry standards. Fine press workers, engravers, illustrators and other artists uphold the legacy by adopting the enduring Roberto size for select creative works.