Aleksi-Meskhishvili Lineage
Aleksi-Meskhishvili, Meskhishvili, was the lineage of bibliophiles, calligraphers and artists of the 17th–19th centuries.
They moved from Meskheti and settled in Tbilisi in the 17th century. They were connected to the Anchiskhati Church. Priest Petre Meskhi (d. 1680) was a sexton of Anchiskhati. The deacons of Anchiskhati were his son Grigol, who was an artist and Grigol's son Aleksi, who was an outstanding calligrapher of the mid-18th century and the founder of the famous dynasty of Georgian calligraphers (Meskhisvili lineage was called Aleksi-Meskhishvili after him). Aleksi mastered Nuskhuri as well as Mkhedruli writing. He transcribed dozens of secular and religious books, some of which were illustrated. Secular and religious books were also transcribed by Solomon, Aleksi's son (1742-1808), who was an excellent master of writing. The work of David, Aleksi's son, is especially noteworthy (see David the Rector).
Taras (1793–1874), the son of Solomon and the archimandrite of Kvatakhevi Monastery, was a writer, translator and calligrapher. The books transcribed by Aleksi-Meshkhishvili lineage are organically connected to the traditions of the old Georgian handwritten books. They used techniques developed a long time ago. Aleksi was especially fond of writing with large, decorative capital letters, ornamental motifs.
Most of the books transcribed by Aleksi-Meshkhishvili lineage are stored in the Institute of Manuscripts of the Georgian Academy of Sciences.
