Letter and Report on the discoveries at Herculaneum /

"This new translation brings to light the early days of scientific archaeology and the unearthing and study of Herculaneum and Pompeii as observed by the erudite and acerbic art historian Johann Joachim Winckelmann (1717-1768). His Letter, published in German in 1762, displays his extensive kno...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Winckelmann, Johann Joachim, 1717-1768
Other Authors: Mattusch, Carol C.
Format: Book
Language:English
German
Published: Los Angeles : J. Paul Getty Museum, ©2011.
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Description
Summary:"This new translation brings to light the early days of scientific archaeology and the unearthing and study of Herculaneum and Pompeii as observed by the erudite and acerbic art historian Johann Joachim Winckelmann (1717-1768). His Letter, published in German in 1762, displays his extensive knowledge of geology, ancient literature, and art while offering a scathing critique of the Spanish Bourbon excavations around the Bay of Naples and of the officials involved. He further discusses these topics in his equally controversial Report of 1764. The introduction describes the context in which these texts were written, identifies various politicians, academics, and collectors, and elucidates topics of particular interest to Winckelmann, from artifacts to local customs to the contents of ancient papyri. The illustrations, particularly those from the Bourbon publication--Le Antichità di Ercolano (1757-92)--illuminate how these monuments influenced contemporary perception of the ancient world."--
Physical Description:ix, 230 pages : illustrations, map ; 26 cm
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN:9781606060896 (pbk.)
1606060899 (pbk.)
9781606060513 (hbk.)
1606060511 (hbk.)