Who were the intended readers of Horace’s Ars poetica?

Horace’s Ars poetica, also known as the Epistula ad Pisones (Epistle to the Pisos), was written about 19–18 BCE specifically for a man named Piso and his sons.12

While the work is addressed to these specific members of the Piso family, it is not a systematic historical or theoretical treatise. Instead, it serves as a collection of insights and maxims regarding the craft of poetry, the selection of literary genres, and the importance of combining natural talent with rigorous study. Because of its focus on literary standards, common sense, and educated taste, the work later became highly prized by Neoclassicists in the 17th and 18th centuries.12