The first architectural historians:

J. J. Winckelmann and the analytical approach of classicism History of architecture

Abstract

The article presents in synthesis the theses
and concepts of art history in general and
in particular the history of architecture
used or devised by the german historian
Johannes J. Winckelmann (1717-1768),
who is considered the founder the discipline
of art history and who also had a decisive
influence on the adoption and dissemination of canons of beauty in the neoclassical style in the enlightenment Europe. These theses and analytical concepts have been identified from a careful study of his two great historical works of ancient art published in Germany and a dissertation dedicated to classical architecture dictated in Rome, made in the mid-eighteenth century. This for the purpose to meet the conception of the architecture and the historical method of
the founder of this discipline of knowledge,
which is characterized by a detailed
examination of series of works of an epoch
or culture to explore the development of
styles, by recognition of determinants of
the natural environment and social regime
on the artists.