STUART, James / REVETT, Nicholas
The British architect and painter James Stuart (1713-1788), son of a Scottish sailor, started painting from a very early age. While still an adolescent, he was awarded a scholarship to attend the Society of Arts, where he cultivated his talent in drawing and geometry. In 1741, his siblings aided him to travel to Rome, as he had fervently desired. Stuart walked most of the journey, earning money from odd jobs on the way. In Rome, Stuart made friends with painter Gavin Hamilton and architects Matthew Brettingham and Nicholas Revett.
The British architect and designer Nicholas Revett (1720-1804) met Stuart, Hamilton and Brettingham in 1842, while he was in Rome studying painting with Cavaliere Benefiale. In April 1748, the four artists made an excursion on foot to Naples and toured the antiquities. At that time, in their treatise "Proposals for Publishing an Accurate Description of the Antiquities of Athens", Stuart and Revett first formulated the idea that would lead to their project in Greece. The idea gained the fervent support of the Society of Dilettanti in Rome, which financed the mission. Stuart and Revett arrived in Greece in the spring of 1751. They stayed there for about two and a half years, facing a multitude of adversities in their work, and returned to England in 1755.
The two worked mainly in Athens and Attica, but also visited Corinth, Thessalonica and Delphi. Revett measured the monuments and Stuart made the drawings. All the work was completed "in situ". Determined to delineate everything as accurately as possible, they excavated almost to the foundations. As they note in the introduction to the publication, no element was added to picturesque effect and even the human figures were depicted from nature.
The first volume of "The Antiquities of Athens Measured and Delineated by James Stuart F.R.S. and F.S.A. and Nicholas Revett Painters and Architects", was published in 1762, receiving a warm welcome from the British public. The work was a landmark in European classicism. Stuart became famous, was surnamed “Athenian” and elected a member of the Royal Society. Revett, on the other hand, remained relatively obscure, as he ended his collaboration with Stuart and sold him his rights to the work. Stuart turned to architecture and designed the first Neoclassical buildings in England. He died suddenly in 1788, while preparing for publication the second volume of the work. Revett continued to participate in archaeological expeditions, always as a member of the Society of Dilettanti, and also built Neoclassical houses. He died aged 84. The four-volume edition of the "The Antiquities of Athens" was completed posthumously by other prominent members of the Society of Dilettanti in 1816.
The edition includes more than three hundred drawings, with views and delineations, plans, sections and details of ancient monuments and architectural members, in exquisite copperplate engravings accompanied by explanatory texts on the use of the monument, archaeological comments and travel impressions. It inaugurated a new era, in which meticulous measurements replaced the generic, often imaginary representation of ancient monuments.
The first volume opens with a detailed introduction on the authors and the rationale behind this pioneering work. As in the rest of the series, the presentation of each monument begins with detailed explanations, followed by a panoramic view of it in its surroundings, and subsequently elevations, cross-sections, ground plans, underneath views and details of its architectural elements. The volume includes the Gate of Athena Archegetis (Pazaroporta), the Temple of Artemis Agrotera or Metroon "en Agrais" (church of the Virgin at the Rock), the Library of Hadrian, the Choregic Monument of Lysicrates (Diogenes’ Lantern) and the Horologion of Andronicus of Cyrrhus (Tower of the Winds). The representations of the last two monuments, especially the reliefs of the myth of Dionysus on Lysicrates’ monument and the personifications of the winds on the Horologion (clock-tower), are a fine example of Stuart’s accomplishment as a painter, while the meticulous architectural measurements are proof of Revett’s dexterity and diligence.
The second volume is dedicated to the monuments of the Acropolis: the Parthenon, the Erechtheion and the Propylaea, presented in the same way as the monuments of the first volume. The third volume, organized in the same way, includes explanatory texts, views and delineations of the Temple of Hephaestus (Theseion), the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Aqueduct of Hadrian, the Temple of Apollo in Corinth, the Panathenaic Stadium, the Odeum of Herodes Atticus, the Las Incantadas monument in Thessalonica, the ruins of Delos and part of a portico near the Choregic Monument of Lysicrates. Of special interest is the Catalogue at the end of introduction, which lists the modern names of settlements, villages, monasteries and farms in Attica, with their corresponding ancient toponyms, as well as observations, drawings and references. There is also a list of ancient and modern place names of the Megaris. Another list is of ports of call and harbours on the maritime route from Sciathos to Euboea, and ports, coasts and capes from Cenchreae to Sounion.
The fourth volume describes the monuments of Pula in Istria on the Dalmatian coast, with its temples and amphitheatre, as well as the Parthenon sculptures and some other antiquities. The fifth volume was published in honour of Stuart and Revett. Five acclaimed architects and archaeologists present monuments in Acragas, Phigalia, Corfu, Messene, Mycenae, Delos, ancient theatres in Epidaurus, Dodone, Syracuse, and other antiquities.
Written by Ioli Vingopoulou
STUART, James / REVETT, Nicholas - Sporades islands
STUART, James / REVETT, Nicholas - Rest Images
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Temple of Rome and Augustus, Pula: The base and pedestal of the columns.
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View of the Propylaea of the Acropolis from the Temple of Athena Nike.
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The flank of the Propylaea, with a transversal section of the Pinacotheca.
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East frieze of the Parthenon: The giving of the Peplos. Athena with Hephaestus.
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East frieze of the Parthenon: The giving of the peplos. Zeus with Hera.
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A view of the Choregic Monument of Lysicrates in its present condition.
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Monument of Philopappus, Athens: A transverse section through the middle of the monument.
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Aqueduct of Hadrian (Dexameni), Athens: The base, capital and entablature of this building.
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Erechtheion: The plan reversed, and Sections of the Capital.
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The Erechtheion: The capital of one of the antae, with a plan and section of the soffit, or ceiling.
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The Erechtheion: View of the back and of the profile of another of the Caryatides.
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The Erechtheion: One of the Caryatides viewed in Front and in Profile.
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Erechtheion: The plan reversed, and sections of the capital.
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The section of the Propylae, and the pier on which an inscription in honor of M. Agrippa.
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The fourth and fifth stones of the south frieze of the Parthenon: Cavalry.
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The first and second stones of the south frieze of the Parthenon: Cavalry.
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The eleventh stone of the north frieze of the Parthenon: Cavalry.
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The ninth and tenth stones of the north frieze of the Parthenon: Cavalry.
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The Parthenon: The fourth stone of the frieze of the cella on the north side of the Temple.
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Outlines of architectural features from the Arch of Sergii in Pula, Croatia.
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Temple of Rome and Augustus, Pula: Fig. 1: Plan and Fig. 2: Angular elevation of the capital.
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Outlines of architectural features of the Temple of Rome and Augustus in Pula, Croatia.
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Elevation of the side of the Temple of Rome and Augustus at Pula, Croatia.
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Elevation of the Temple of Rome and Augustus at Pula, Croatia.
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Roman amphitheater of Pula, Croatia: Basement Story. Fig. 1: Plan. Fig. 2: Elevation.
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Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Athens: Section of the theatre through the scene.
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Dioscorus from the now lost Incantadas monument, Thessaloniki.
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Ariadne from the now lost Incantadas monument, Thessaloniki.
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Temple of Apollo, Delos: Shaft, capital, and entablature of the columns.
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Roman Amphitheater of Pula, Croatia: First Order. Fig. 1: Plan. Fig. 2: Elevation.
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Roman Amphitheater of Pula, Croatia: Second Order. Fig. 1: Plan. Fig. 2: Elevation.
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The flank and section of the Arch of Sergii in Pula, Croatia.
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Ancient coin from Istria and inscription from Pula, Croatia.
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Relief from the frieze of the Temple of Athena Nike, showing a combat between Greeks and Persians.
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Relief from the Temple of Athena Nike at the Acropolis of Athens: Amazonomachy.
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Coins of Antiochus IV Epiphanes of Commagene and his wife Julia Iotapa.
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The seventh and eighth stones of the north frieze of the Parthenon: Cavalry.
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Arch of Sergii in Pula, Croatia: Trophies in the frieze on the Flanks of the Arch.
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Street in Athens. In the background the Gate of Athena Archegetis (mod. Pazaroporta).
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Front elevation of the Gate of Athena Archegetis (mod. Pazaroporta).
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Lateral elevation of the Gate of Athena Archegetis (mod. Pazaroporta).
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Ionian capital from the Temple of Artemis Agrotera in Agrae (Panagia stin Petra) in Athens.
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Temple of Artemis Agrotera in Agrae (Panagia stin Petra), Athens: The elevation of the Portico.
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Temple of Artemis Agrotera in Agrae (Panagia stin Petra), Athens: The south side of the Temple.
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Plan of the Tower of the Winds (Horologion of Andronikos Kyrristos) in Athens.
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The elevation of the Tower of the Winds (Horologion of Andronikos Kyrristos) in Athens.
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Section of the Horologion of Andronikos Kyrristos (Tower of the Winds) in Athens.
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Tower of the Winds (Horologion of Andronikos Kyrristos) in Athens: The capital of one of the antae.
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Coin of Athens and inscription from the Choregic monument of Lysicrates.
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The elevation of the portal of Hadrian's Library and the facade to the north of the portal.
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Hadrian's Library in Athens: The base of one of the four fluted columns of the portal.
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The Parthenon: The Capital and Entablature of the Columns of the Portico.
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North frieze of the Parthenon: Three scaphephori or men carrying trays.
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Erechtheion: The plan reversed, and the necessary sections of the capitals.
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Choregic monument of Thrasyllus (Panagia Spiliotissa): Elevation of the front.
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Choregic monument of Thrasyllus (Panagia Spiliotissa): The capital and entablature.
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Title page of the third volume of the book. Antiquities from Megara.
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Temple of Hephaestus (Theseion), Athens: The elevation of the eastern Front.
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Temple of Hephaestus (Theseion), Athens: Longitudinal section of the eastern portico and pronaos.
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The Temple of Olympian Zeus, Athens, from the sanctuary of Ilissus. In the foreground women dancing.
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Marble seats, one of which is from Kaisariani Monastery, Athens.
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The Arch of Hadrian, Athens: Elevation of the fronts facing the south-east.
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Aqueduct of Hadrian (Dexameni), Athens: The plan, elevation and section of this frontispiece.
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Monument of Philopappus, Athens: Philopappus is proclaimed consul of Athens.
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Plan of the Roman bridge over Ilissus, with the elevation of it next to the south west.
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The now lost Incantadas monument, Thessaloniki: Plan, elevation and section.
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The now lost Incantadas monument, Thessaloniki: Pedestal, base and plan reversed of the capital.
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Ganymedes from the now lost Incantadas monument, Thessaloniki.
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Dionysus with panther from the now lost Incantadas monument, Thessaloniki.
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Inscriptions and shield reliefs from trophies, found near Stoa of Philip V, Delos.
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Votive relief found on the wall of a school close to the church of Megali Panagia, Athens.
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Relief from the Temple of Rome and Augustus at Pula, Croatia.
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The fifth and sixth stones of the north frieze of the Parthenon: Cavalry.
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The third stone of the south frieze of the Parthenon: Cavalry.
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The tenth and eleventh stones of the south frieze of the Parthenon: Cavalry.
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Metopes from the south side of the Parthenon: Centauromachy.
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Metopes from the south side of the Parthenon: Centauromachy.
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Metopes from the south side of the Parthenon: Centauromachy.
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Metopes from the south side of the Parthenon: Centauromachy.
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Metopes from the south side of the Parthenon: Centauromachy.
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Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Athens: Elevation of the front of the scene.
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Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Athens: Elevation of the back of the scene.
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Plan of the Temple of Artemis Agrotera on the southern bank of Ilissus river.
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Elevation of the front of the Temple of Artemis Agrotera at Ilissus river.
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Plan of the Horologion of Andronikos Kyrristos (Tower of the Winds).
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Elevation and section of the Choregic Monument of Lysicrates in Athens.
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Plan of Hadrian's Library, Athens. The remaning part is shaded in the drawing.
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Metopes from the south side of the Parthenon: Centauromachy.
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Elevation and section of the Horologion of Andronikos Kyrristos (Tower of the Winds).
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Plan, profile and section of angular capital belonging to the Temple of Artemis Agrotera.
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The capital and the entablature of the Gate of Athena Archegetis (mod. Pazaroporta).
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Elevation of the façade and side of the Gate of Athena Archegetis in Athens.
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Funerary vase. Sketch of a part of the ancient Agora. Ancient inscriptions.
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General view of Athens from Hadrian's Aqueduct (Dexameni) in Athens.
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Relief showing a male and female figure holding a tripod, most probably choregic.
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The Erechtheion: The elevation of the front adorned with Caryatides.
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Coins of ancient Corinth showing Pegasus, Athena, Persephone, and Bellerophon killing Chimaera.
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Monument of Philopappus, Athens: Philopappus is proclaimed consul of Athens.
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Temple of Artemis Agrotera in Agrae (Panagia stin Petra), Athens: A plan of this Temple.
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Monument of Philopappus, Athens: Philopappus is proclaimed consul of Athens.
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The now lost Incantadas monument, Thessaloniki: The capital and entablature.