Johann Joachim Winckelmann 
History of Ancient Art [PDF ebook] 
Among the Greeks

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. Cline and fall — and also the causes to which may reasonably be attributed the points of resemblance and difference observable in the arts of different na tions. The soundness of his judgment, the acuteness and originality of his observations, and the copious ness of his illustrations, drawn from an intimate familiarity with every extant monument of ancient art, and with everything in ancient classic literature which could elucidate the subject to which he had devoted his life, render him the most trustworthy, instructive, and delightful of the writers on art. I cannot but think that a careful study of Winckel mann’s History of Ancient Art, and a thoughtful consideration of the great principles embodied in it, must necessarily tend to form a pure, correct, and elevated taste.