Des ruines au musée. La destinée de la sculpture classique

For centuries, Greek and Roman sculptures found amongst the ruins of classical sites have been as they still are transferred to museums. From deserted ruins to glorious collections and museums this is normally understood as sudden leap from the darkness of dead civilization to the splendour of new one. This new interest in classical antiquities is one of the main components of the Re-naissance (or re-birth namely, of Classical antiquity). But closer scrutiny discovers significant nuances and intermediary stages. The re-use of classical sculptures in religious buildings in the Middle Ages often deliberate was the background for the rise of interest on the part of artists in ancient sculpture as model for their works. Artists inspired the first collectors of antiquites and public museums gradually evolved from private collections The article explores the phases of this process from re-use to collections through to museums as well as its relations to the growth of Art History as literary genre and as discipline.