Athens,- DAS CHORAGISCHE MONUMENT DES LYSIKRATES.

A fine aquatint view of the 'Choragic Monument of Lysicrates', in Plaka, Athens, with the French Capucin Convent [now disappeared], which served as Lord Byrons home during his visit of Athens, in the background.
From the rare German edition of 'The Antiquities of Athens' by Stuart and Revett, published in Darmstatt 1829/30. The Choragic Monument of Lysicrates near the Acropolis of Athens was erected by the choregos Lysicrates, a wealthy patron of musical performances in the Theatre of Dionysus, to commemorate the prize in the dithyramb contest of the City Dionysia in 335/334 BCE, of which performance he was liturgist.
The monument is known as the first use of the Corinthian order on the exterior of a building. It has been reproduced widely in modern monuments and building elements.
James Stuart and Nicholas Revett, are best known for their central role in pioneering Neoclassicism, and were British architects who traveled in Greece from 1751 to 1754 to record and measure the ancient ruins, particularly those of the Acropolis in Athens. They published their findings in 'The Antiquities of Athens', the first volume of which appeared in 1762.
In England, Revett and Stuart prepared their work for publication and found subscribers for The Antiquities of Athens. The project was intended to consist of four volumes, although a supplementary volume also appeared. The illustrations include 368 etched and engraved plates, plans, and maps drawn at scale.
Although their French rival Julien-David Le Roy published his book about ancient Greek monuments 'Les Ruines des plus beaux bâtiments de la Grèce' before 'The Antiquities of Athens', the accuracy of Revett and Stuart's work gives their survey a claim to be the first of its kind in studies of ancient Greece; for example, Revett and Stuart were the first Europeans to describe the existence of ancient Greek polychromy.

The first volume, in which the authors are described as "painters and architects", appeared in 1762/3. Revett gave up his interest in the project after the first volume, but Stuart continued to be involved until his death in 1788. The fourth volume appeared in 1816, the year the Elgin Marbles were acquired by the British government.