Book frontispiece

Book frontispiece

A frontispiece is an elaborate decorative illustration that appears facing the title page of the book. Use of the word to indicate the title page is now obsolete ("Oxford English Dictionary"). In modern usage, the frontispiece is the verso opposite the recto title page.

Elaborate engraved title pages were formerly in frequent use, especially in Bibles and in scholarly books, and many of these pages are masterpieces of the art of engraving.

ee also

*Book design


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  • Frontispiece — *In architecture, a frontispiece constitutes the elements that frame and decorate the main, or front, door to a building; especially when the main entrance is the chief face of the building, rather than being kept behind columns or a portico. *A… …   Wikipedia

  • frontispiece — [frunt′is pēs΄] n. [OFr < LL frontispicium, front of a church, front view < L frons, FRONT1 + specere, to look: see SPY] 1. Obs. the first page, esp. the title page, of a book 2. an illustration facing the title page of a book 3. Archit …   English World dictionary

  • Frontispiece — Fron tis*piece, n. [F. frontispice, LL. frontispicium beginning, front of a church, fr. L. frons front + spicere, specere, to look at, view: cf. It. frontispizio. See {Front} and {Spy}.] The part which first meets the eye; as: (a) (Arch.) The… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • frontispiece — 1590s, decorated entrance of a building, from M.Fr. frontispice, probably from It. frontespizio and L.L. frontispicium facade, originally a view of the forehead, judgment of character through facial features, from L. frons (gen. frontis) forehead …   Etymology dictionary

  • frontispiece — ► NOUN ▪ an illustration facing the title page of a book. ORIGIN Latin frontispicium facade …   English terms dictionary

  • frontispiece — UK [ˈfrʌntɪsˌpiːs] / US [ˈfrʌntɪsˌpɪs] noun [countable] Word forms frontispiece : singular frontispiece plural frontispieces a picture at the beginning of a book on the page opposite the one with the title on it …   English dictionary

  • Book — A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of paper, parchment, or other material, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf, and each side of a leaf… …   Wikipedia

  • book — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) I n. volume, tome (See book); collection; record, script, libretto. See assemblage, writing. v. t. record, enter; re serve, schedule, engage, program; charge. See list, accusation. @by the book informal …   English dictionary for students

  • frontispiece — [[t]frʌ̱ntɪspiːs[/t]] frontispieces N COUNT: usu sing The frontispiece of a book is a picture at the beginning, opposite the page with the title on …   English dictionary

  • frontispiece — noun a) An illustration that is on the page before the title page of a book, a section of one, or a magazine. b) The title page of a book …   Wiktionary

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