Johann Joachim Winckelmann Biography

Johann Joachim Winckelmann was a pioneering art historian and archaeologist who articulated the distinctions between Greek, Greco-Roman, and Roman art. His systematic application of style categories to art history laid the groundwork for scientific archaeology and the discipline of art history itself, becoming a foundational figure in the field. Winckelmann's profound influence on the neoclassical movement and Western painting, sculpture, literature, and philosophy was so significant it was provocatively termed 'the Tyranny of Greece over Germany.' His work continues to shape our understanding of the ancient world and its artistic legacy.