Title Page
Medium
albums (bound) & books
Classification
albums (bound) & books
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-233-10
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Smithsonian American Art Museum, where we invite you to explore the elegant "Title Page" by Pietro Metastasio, the renowned Italian poet and librettist (8–1782). in 1769, this work is classified as a bound album or book, reflecting the refined craftsmanship of 18th-century European printing. Metastasio, often called the "poet of the Enlightenment," rose to fame for his poetic librettos that fueled operas across Europe, blending classical themes with dramatic flair and influencing composers like Mozart and Handel. As a title page, this piece served as the grand introduction to a...