Entwurf einer historischen Architektur

The Entwurf einer historischen Architektur (A Plan of Civil and Historical Architecture), published in 1721 by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, was a groundbreaking work. It was the first successful comparative study of architecture across different cultures and time periods.1

Fischer von Erlach, a prominent Austrian architect of the Baroque era, synthesized elements from classical, Renaissance, and southern Baroque styles to shape the architecture of the Habsburg empire. His Entwurf included architectural examples from Egypt, Persia, Greece, Rome, and even India and China, illustrating his broad understanding and appreciation for global architectural traditions. This work demonstrated his ambition to create a new architectural style that built upon the Roman tradition.1