Jacob Burckhardt

Carl Jacob Christoph Burckhardt was born on May 25, 1818, in Basel, Switzerland, and passed away on August 8, 1897, in the same city. A Swiss historian of art and culture, Burckhardt made significant contributions to the development of cultural history. His most famous work, The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy (1860), is regarded as a pioneering effort in the study of the Renaissance period, focusing not only on the artistic achievements but also on the social institutions that shaped...See more

Carl Jacob Christoph Burckhardt was born on May 25, 1818, in Basel, Switzerland, and passed away on August 8, 1897, in the same city. A Swiss historian of art and culture, Burckhardt made significant contributions to the development of cultural history. His most famous work, The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy (1860), is regarded as a pioneering effort in the study of the Renaissance period, focusing not only on the artistic achievements but also on the social institutions that shaped daily life. Burckhardt's approach was revolutionary in that it treated a historical period in its entirety, considering the interplay of art, politics, culture, and social systems. He is considered one of the founding figures of cultural history and was instrumental in shaping the way historians examine the past. Burckhardt's academic journey included studying at the University of Bonn, and he later worked at the University of Basel and the Federal Polytechnic School. His work continues to influence the fields of art history and cultural studies. See less