The period of classicism began about the year 1760. Its models are the works of the ancient times and the Italian Renaissance. The aim of classicistic Arts was to create an idealizing beauty by means of measure and harmony. To show the idea of perfect nature was more important than depicting nature itself.
This implies the representation of constructional objects (houses, squares, bridges etc.) for their own sake, thus serving not only as staffage, background, or as attribute. There were architecture pictures already in ancient Pompeji. In Middle Ages depicted constructions just indicate a certain scene. The actual architecture picture arises in the 16th century in Netherlands(f. e. “Brueghel's Tower of Babel”). Dutch artists prevailed here up until the 17th century, and were followed by Italian artists in the 18th century. In modern times the representation of architecture has become a domain of photographers.