* Charles Baudelaire: Often considered a pioneer of modern art criticism, Baudelaire championed the works of contemporary artists like Gustave Courbet and Édouard Manet, breaking away from traditional academic standards. His influential essays like "The Painter of Modern Life" and "The Salon of 1846" helped shift the focus of art criticism towards modern subjects and aesthetic principles.
* John Ruskin: A prominent art critic and social theorist, Ruskin championed the Pre-Raphaelites and advocated for realism in art. He also emphasized the moral and social dimensions of art, arguing for its role in promoting social justice. His influential writings, including "Modern Painters" and "The Stones of Venice," helped shape the development of art criticism in the 19th century.
* Walter Pater: A significant figure in aestheticism, Pater championed the subjective experience of beauty and the pursuit of sensory pleasure in art. His book "The Renaissance" and his influential essays on art and literature encouraged a more personal and evocative approach to art criticism.
* Clement Greenberg: A prominent 20th-century art critic, Greenberg championed abstract expressionism and advocated for a formalist approach to art criticism. He believed in the autonomy of art and argued that art should be judged primarily on its formal qualities, rather than its social or political implications.
* Michel Foucault: Though not a traditional art critic, Foucault's work on power, discourse, and representation profoundly impacted the development of art criticism. His influential writings on the history of sexuality, madness, and the prison system provided new perspectives on the role of art and culture in society.
Therefore, while there's no single "father" of modern art criticism, these individuals and their contributions significantly shaped its evolution and helped define its key concepts and approaches.