Winckelmann, Lessing, Herder Art Controversy Study

Winckelmann, GE.Lessing, and J.GHerder who represent three different stages of enlightenment in Germany are three important representatives in the enlightenment period. Under the guide of rationalism, from different point of view, the three masters of aesthetics involve in the discussion of the nature of art questions closely tied with enlightenment, and then reveal the nature of the controversy is different understandings of enlighten. Because of the particular historical conditions, the characters and mission of German enlightenment are different from British and French enlightenment. As the advocators of enlightenment and the propellants of German enlightenment, Winckelmann, GE.Lessing, and J.GHerder always load the assignment of the integration of German nations and the establishment of German ethical literature and art. Through the following questions including the relationship between poem and painting, the ancient Greek art and art history, they inherited the predecessors' aesthetic idea and art views with critique so as to apply the controversy. Meanwhile, they pose their own theory through controversy. In the controversy of the relationship between poem and painting, Winckelmann emphasized "idealistic aesthetics is the highest standard of art"; G.E.Lessing thought the highest principle of poem is "reality"; J.GHerder tended to develop "beautiful and historical metaphysics" by stimulating feelings with thoughts. They started the controversy of ancient Green art by expressing different artistic ideals after researches of ancient Green art. In this paper, I take the controversy of art questions among three masters as basic research, bringing the internal disciplines of aesthetics questions and art questions of German enlightenment and the reflection of German enlightenment.