The antiquities of Athens,
by James Stuart, Nicholas Revett, Institute of Classical Architecture and Classical America
Category: Architecture

James "Athenian" Stuart and Nicholas Revett's monumental Antiquities of Athens was the first accurate survey of ancient Greek architecture ever completed. Based on precise measured drawings done at the sites of the ancient ruins between 1751 and 1754, these books set a new standard for archaeological investigation in the eighteenth century. In doing so, they also transformed our understanding of Greek architecture and by pointing up differences between Greek and Roman examples fundamentally challenged prevailing notions about a universal classical ideal and fueled the Greek Revival movement that dominated British, European, and American architecture and design for over a century. Originally published in four volumes that appeared between 1762 and 1816, Stuart and Revett's masterwork is presented here in its entirety as part of our Classic Reprint series and features a new introduction by scholar Frank Salmon. With its many images of buildings, plans, sculpture, friezes, and decorative objects such as vases, it remains the logical starting point for anyone interested in Athens, Greece, and its influence on the history of Western architecture. Published in association with The Institute of Classical Architecture and Classical America.