Peter von Blanckenhagen

Peter Heinrich von Blanckenhagen (1909 in Riga, Latvia - 1990) was a scholar of Roman art, and especially ancient wall painting.

Born in Latvia, von Blanckenhagen and his family fled to Germany following the Bolshevik Revolution. It was in German universities that he received his training in classical archaeology. In 1947 von Blanckenhagen came to the United States and was a visiting professor at the University of Chicago. He would return to Germany, but became an American citizen in 1956. As a scholar he was best known for his expertise in Roman painting and sculpture and he had a long and distinguished career during which he published numerous books and articles and held several eminent lectureships. He was awarded the Commander’s Cross of the Order of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1981. He was awarded the Gold Medal Award for Distinguished Archaeological Achievement from the Archaeological Institute of America in 1982. At his death, von Blanckenhagen was the Robert Lehman Professor "Emeritus" of Fine Arts at the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University.

Publications

* "The Paintings from Boscotrecase". Heidelberg: F.H. Kerle, 1962.
* "Daedalus and Icarus on Pompeian Walls," "Römische Mitteilungen" 75 (1968): 106-145.
* "The Augustan Villa at Boscotrecase". Mainz am Rhein: P. von Zabern, 1990.

Further reading

* "Studies in Classical Art and Archaeology: a Tribute to Peter Heinrich von Blanckenhagen". Locust Valley, NY: J. J. Augustin, 1979.
* Harrison, Evelyn B. "Peter Heinrich von Blanckenhagen, 1909-1990" "American Journal of Archaeology" (1991).