1717-1768

German scholar considered the father of art history and modern archaeology. Winckelmann was the first scholar to study works of art in context. His methodology and systematic classification of artistic styles explored geographical, social, and political circumstances to trace the history and explain the meaning of art objects. His scholarly methods profoundly impacted the development of classical archaeology. Winckelmann's idealized vision of Ancient Greece greatly influenced the development of European neoclassical fine arts and literature.