Moritz Thausing and the art history as a science

Abstract

In a context of profound changes in university disciplines, Moritz Thausing (1838–1884) stands as a staunch defender of the scientific status of art history, sustaining the possibility of the young discipline to present itself as a solid field of knowledge, based on strict empirical research and in surpassing philosophical speculation and subjective judgments. We present below the translation of this important debate, a conference from 1873 entitled The status of art history as a science.