Johann Joachim Winckelmann's (1717-1768) "Thoughts on the Imitation of Greek Works in Painting and Sculpture," first published in 1755, had an enormous impact on European intellectual history and continues to shape the image of ancient Greece in art and science to this day. In the second edition of 1756, Winckelmann added the letter and explanations. Max Kunze, president of the Winckelmann Society and co-editor of the historical-critical edition of Winckelmann's works, has newly edited these foundational writings for the primarily German ideal of Greek antiquity and provided extensive commentary.