With his writings on the art of the Greeks and the ancient world, Johann Joachim Winckelmann – archaeologist, author, librarian, and archivist – founded the ideal of classical antiquity. In 1755 he went to Rome and in 1763 was appointed president of Roman antiquities by the Pope. Maron’s portrait depicts him as a scholar at his desk, with a wide, fur-trimmed coat and a turban. A bust, engravings, and writings refer to his work, while his direct gaze and speaking gesture give the portrait liveliness.