1597, "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" +
specere "to look at" (see
scope (1)). Sense of "illustration facing a book's title page" first recorded 1682.