Greece vs. Rome: The Eighteenth-Century Quest for the Sources of Western Civilization
A fiery debate regarding the respective merits of ancient Greece and Rome as the "true" fountainhead of Western civilization pervaded 18th-century Rome. Giovanni Battista Piranesi, whose magnificent prints celebrated ancient Rome's greatness, defended the Roman camp. Johann Joachim Winckelmann, whose writings emphasized ancient Greece's aesthetic and moral superiority, spearheaded the ultimately victorious Greek camp. As a result, James Stuart and Nicholas Revett explored ancient Greece first-hand, leading to the publication of the influential Antiquities of Athens. We will revisit this debate by scrutinizing its protagonists, studying their publications and art, and co-curating an accompanying exhibition at the College Museum of Art. 3 hrs. sem.