Skip to Main Content

 Admission is always freeOpen today: 10:00  to 5:00  Directions             Play Artle            

                  -  Visit                      - Visit
                    - Getting Here
                    - Accessibility
                    - Tours, Guides & Maps
                    - Food & Drink
                    - Gallery Shops
                    - Visitor Policies 
                  -  Collection                      - Collection
                    - Highlights
                    - Search the Collection
                    - Artists Search
                    - Acquisition Highlights
                    - Stories
                    - Games 
                  -  Exhibitions                      - Exhibitions
                    - Current
                    - Special Installations
                    - Upcoming
                    - On Tour
                    - Past 
                  -  Calendar                      - Calendar
                    - Films
                    - Performances
                    - Talks
                    - Guided Tours
                    - After Hours
                    - Fun for Kids
                    - Festivals
                    - Workshops 
                  -  Learn                      - Learn
                    - Teachers
                    - Families
                    - Teens
                    - Adults
                    - Learning Resources
                    - Music Programs
                    - Film Programs 
                  -  Conservation                      - Conservation
                    - Projects
                    - Publications
                    - Resources 
                  -  Research                      - Research
                    - The Center
                    - Publications
                    - Make an Appointment
                    - Archives
                    - Library
                    - NGA Online Editions 
                  -  Support                      - Support
                    - Donate Now
                    - National Membership
                    - Circle Membership
                    - Leadership Groups
                    - Planned Giving
                    - Major Giving
                    - Gifts of Art 
                  -  Shop                      - Shop
                    - Books
                    - Jewelry
                    - Apparel & Accessories
                    - Kids
                    - NGA Custom Prints 
                  -  Play Artle

Home>Exhibitions>Past>2010>Announcing the Text: The Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900,  Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library

# Announcing the Text: The Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900: Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library

February 1 – June 18, 2010East Building, Ground Floor, Library

Announcing the TextThe Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900 Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library
**Biondo Flavio, 1392–1463**, *Blondi Flavii Forliviensis in Roma instaurata prefatio incipit,*Rome, 1471, Letterpress and illumination, J. Paul Getty Fund in honor of Franklin Murphy and The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation

Early printed books often followed the form of a manuscript and had no title page. Instead a brief description, called an incipit, is included at the top of the first page. The text itself garners primary attention, with the first letter receiving an illumination.

Announcing the TextThe Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900 Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library
**Giovanni Boccaccio, 1313–1375**, *L’opera de misser Giouanni Boccaccio De mulieribus claris*,**Venice, 1506, Letterpress and woodcut, David K. E. Bruce Fund

The title here is placed above a woodcut illustration with the first few lines of text below. The rest of the information regarding the production of the book appears in the colophon at the end. Just as with manuscripts, the primary focus is the text itself, and less importance is placed on the producer of the work.

Announcing the TextThe Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900 Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library
**Ovid, 43 B.C.–17 or 18 A.D.**, *Habebis candide lector. P. Ouidii Nasonis Metamorphosin castigatissimam*, Parma, 1505, Letterpress, Gift of Robert Erburu

In this example there is still a limited amount of information, but the title has moved to its own page. In the 1460s printers began including a blank page at the beginning of the book, possibly as a means to protect the text. Eventually, this blank received a label-title such as this, probably as an aid to identification.

Announcing the TextThe Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900 Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library
**Livy**, *Titi Livii Decades: noviter impresse*, Venice, 1506, Letterpress and woodcut, A. W. Mellon Foundation New Century Fund

Printers began to see themselves as important collaborators in the production of books, and soon a printer’s mark, like the woodcut device of L. A. Giunta shown here in red, began to appear along with the label-title.

Announcing the TextThe Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900 Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library
**Plutarch**, *Uitae Plutarchi Cheronei nouissime post Iodocu[m] Badiu[m] Asce[n]sium lo[n]ge diligentius repositae, maiore[que] dilige[n]tia castigatae*, Venice, 1516, Letterpress and woodcut, David K. E. Bruce Fund

As the title page became a promotional and marketing tool, more attention was focused on its design. The longer title and combination of printing in red and black give this page a more sophisticated look than previous examples.

Announcing the TextThe Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900 Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library
**Polydore Vergil, 1470?–1555**, *Polydori Vergilii Vrbinatis De inuentoribus rerum libri tres*, Paris, 1517, Letterpress and metalcut, David K. E. Bruce Fund

Illustrations became more elaborate, as in this metalcut title vignette, and gradually more information from the colophon (printer’s note) moved forward to the title page, as seen below the illustration here.

Announcing the TextThe Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900 Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library
**Bernardino Corio, 1459–1519?**, *Dello eccelle[n]issimo oratore messer Bernardino Corio, milanese Historia co[n]tinente da lorigine di Milano tutti li gesti, fatti, e detti preclari...*, Milan, 1520?, Letterpress and woodcut, David K. E. Bruce Fund

In a manuscript, and likewise in early printed books, a decorative border often surrounded the text. Later, the border moved to include the title page as well. This reissue of the 1503 edition includes the addition of a beautiful woodcut title page.

Announcing the TextThe Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900 Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library
**Lodovico Guicciardini, 1521–1589**, *Descrittione di m. Lodovico Gvicciardini, gentilhvomo fiorentino, di tvtti i Paesi Bassi, altrimenti detti Germania inferiore*, Antwerp, 1588, Letterpress and engraving, David K. E. Bruce Fund

Engraving overtook the woodcut as the primary form of book illustration by the end of the 16th century. All of the information from the colophon moved to the title page, as seen in this elaborate title page and frontispiece.

Announcing the TextThe Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900 Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library
**Giles Sadeler, 1570–1629**, *Vestigi delle antichita di Roma, Tivoli, Pozzvolo et altri lvochi*, Prague, 1606, Engraving, C. Wesley and Jacqueline Peebles Fund

Though it was more costly, some printers would have the text for the title page engraved directly into the copper plate, as shown here. This alleviated the problem of having to run the leaf through two different presses.

Announcing the TextThe Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900 Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library
**Benedetto Buommattei**, 1581–1647, *Descrizion delle feste fatte in Firenze per la canonizzazione di s.to Andrea Corsini*, Florence, 1632 Etching, David K. E. Bruce Fund

Upon its introduction in the early 16th century, pure etching did not often appear in books—at least initially, because it was seen as less formal than traditional engraving. However, in part because it was a quicker method than traditional engraving, etched title pages like the one shown here (by Stefano della Bella, 1610–1644) grew in popularity in the 17th century.

Announcing the TextThe Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900 Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library
**Josephus Zoller, d. 1750**, *ConCeptVs ChronographICVs De ConCepta saCra DeIpara*, Augsburg, 1712, Letterpress and engraving, David K. E. Bruce Fund

The frontispiece first appeared in the 16th century. Initially a portrait, it soon evolved into a variety of forms. In this example, it is an emblematic version of the title that compliments the standard letterpress version.

Announcing the TextThe Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900 Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library
**M. de Antoine Houdar La Motte, 1672–1731**, *Fables nouvelles: dediées au roy*, Paris, 1719, Letterpress and engraving, David K. E. Bruce Fund

By the beginning of the 18th century Paris had become a leading center in the book trade. Often a combination of methods was used, as in the engraved and etched frontispiece and title vignette with letterpress text shown here.

Announcing the TextThe Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900 Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library
**M. de Antoine Houdar La Motte, 1672–1731**, *Fables nouvelles: dediées au roy*, Amsterdam, 1727, Letterpress and engraving, David K. E. Bruce Fund

This is an interesting variation that appears in a later edition of the same work. The frontispiece clearly depicts the same scene, re-engraved in reverse and with smaller dimensions, but the title page uses a very different typeface, red ink, and a new layout.

Announcing the TextThe Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900 Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library
**Frans van Stampart, 1675–1750**, *Prodromus, oder, Vor-licht des eröffneten Schau- und Wunder-Prachtes aller deren an dem Kaiserl*, Vienna, 1735, Letterpress, David K. E. Bruce Fund

Many new typefaces began to emerge in the 18th century. The Enlightenment brought a new scientific approach to printing and with it, the development of ornamented type using C- and S-curves based on forms from nature.

Announcing the TextThe Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900 Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library
**John Dart, d. 1730**, *The history and antiquities of the Cathedral Church of Canterbury, and the once-adjoining monastery*, London, 1726 Letterpress, David K. E. Bruce Fund

In 1710 copyright was established in England, and English printers broke away from the printing practices of the European continent. From previous designs, based on those of the Dutch, a new, modern style emerged.

Announcing the TextThe Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900 Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library
**Simon Fokke, 1712–1784**, *Convoi-funebre de Son Altesse Royale Anne, princesse royale de la Grande Bretagne, princesse douairiere d’Orange et de Nassau, gouvernante des Provinces-Unies Lyk-staetsie van haere koninglyke hoogheid Anna, kroon princesse van Groot-Brittannien, princesse douariere van Oranje en Nassau, gouvernante der Vereenigde Nederlanden*, The Hague, 1761, Letterpress, David K. E. Bruce Fund

To appeal to a wider audience and still keep costs down, a printer might print a single book in multiple languages instead of printing distinct editions. Sometimes, as with the Dutch and French versions here, separate title pages may be produced.

Announcing the TextThe Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900 Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library
**Torquato Tasso, 1544–1595**, *La Gerusalemme liberate*, Paris, 1792, Letterpress and engraving, David K. E. Bruce Fund

Often special editions would receive special treatment when it came to the title page. This reissue of the sheets published as the 1785 Barrois edition includes an engraved title page in each volume, in addition to the original letterpress title page.

Announcing the TextThe Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900 Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library
**Samuel Ireland, d. 1800**, *Picturesque views on the river Thames, from its source in Glocestershire to the Nore*, London, 1792, Aquatint, David K. E. Bruce Fund

Another example of an addition to a standard title page, this edition includes a title page done in aquatint and engraved with a variant of the title, *Picturesque views on the river Thames with observations on the works of art in its vicinity*.

Announcing the TextThe Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900 Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library
**Modeste Paroletti, 1765-1834**, *Description historique de la basilique de Superga, située sur la colline près Turin, ornée de vignettes et de neuf planches en taille-douce*, Turin, 1808, Letterpress and line engraving, David K. E. Bruce Fund

Classically based type, inspired by the discovery of sites like Pompeii and a newfound interest in the ancient world, became popular at the turn of the 19th century, as this title page and line engraved frontispiece show.

Announcing the TextThe Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900 Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library
**Mandar, 1757–1845**, *Détails de construction d’une maison donnés pour l’instruction de messieurs les élv́es de l’École royale des ponts et chaussées*, Paris, 1818, Lithograph, J. Paul Getty Fund in honor of Franklin Murphy

Lithography became a widely used printing technique in the 19th century, especially in France, where it was applied to title pages such as this one, illustrated after a drawing by J. J. F. Le Barbier.

Announcing the TextThe Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900 Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library
**Lodovico Ariosto, 1474–1533**, *Roland furieux poème héroïque*, Paris, 1879, Lithograph and line block print, David K. E. Bruce Fund

The last book to be illustrated by the prolific 19th-century artist Gustave Doré was an edition of *Orlando Furioso*. This frontispiece is a line block reproduction of one of Doré’s drawings; the title page was printed with offset lithography.

Announcing the TextThe Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900 Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library
**Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin, 1812–1852**, *The true principles of pointed or Christian architecture: set forth in two lectures delivered at St. Marie’s, Oscott, by A. Welby Pugin*, London, 1841, Lithograph, Mark J. Millard Architectural Collection

A. W. N. Pugin was a leading exponent of the Gothic revival. He rejected the elevation of ornament that had come to dominate design in the 19th century and advocated a return to design based on material, structure, and function.

Announcing the TextThe Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900 Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library
**William Morris, 1834–1896**, *Gothic architecture: a lecture for the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society Hammersmith*, London, 1893, Letterpress, David K. E. Bruce Fund

Inspired by the writings of people like Pugin, William Morris began the Arts and Crafts movement in England in the 1860s. Turning to medieval handicraft to find an authentic style, he based his book designs on manuscripts and early printing.

Announcing the TextThe Development of the Title Page, 1470–1900 Selections from the National Gallery of Art Library
**Arthur Heygate Mackmurdo, 1851–1942**, *Wren’s city churches Orpington*, Kent, 1883, Woodcut, David K. E. Bruce Fund

Thought to be the first manifestation of an art nouveau title page, the example seen here features stylized curvilinear designs and organic motifs inspired by nature, which typify the style that would be popularized near the turn of the 20th century.

**This exhibition is no longer on view at the National Gallery.**

**Overview**: 31 books tracing the history and design of the printed book title page from the 15th century to the late 19th century were shown in this exhibition selected from the rare book collection of the National Gallery of Art Library.

**Organization:** The exhibition was organized by the National Gallery of Art. Yuri Long, rare book specialist, National Gallery of Art Library, was curator.

### Stay connected

Learn more about our exhibitions, news, programs, and special offers.

About
          - About the National Gallery
          - Stories
          - Press
          - FAQs
          - Contact Us

Plan a Visit
          - Getting Here
          - Accessibility
          - Today's Tours
          - Food & Drink
          - Calendar
          - Downloadable Map

Get Involved
          - Donate
          - Membership
          - Volunteer
          - Opportunities
          - Shop Online

Resources
          - Search the Collection
          - Conservation
          - Library
          - Archives
          - The Center
          - Film Programs
          - Music Programs
          - Audio/Video
          - Open Access Images

Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily

**West Building**6th St and Constitution Ave NW*Enter or exit from Constitution Avenue, 4th Street, or 7th Street. The Madison Drive entrance is currently closed.*

**East Building**4th St and Constitution Ave NW*Enter and exit from 4th Street.*

**Sculpture Garden**7th St and Constitution Ave NW*Enter and exit from 7th Street, Constitution Avenue, or Madison Drive.*

We are closed on December 25 and January 1.

*The National Gallery of Art serves the nation by welcoming all people to explore and experience art, creativity, and our shared humanity.*

          -  Twitter 
          -  Facebook 
          -  Instagram 
          -  Pinterest 
          -  YouTube 

© 2024 National Gallery of Art   Notices   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy