Philippe Stern (1895-1979), Director of the Guimet Museum in Paris, pioneered stylistic evolution methodology in Asian art history.

“L’Art du Champa et son évolution”

Published in 1942, his masterwork categorized Cham art into evolutionary stylistic epochs: Hoa Lai, Dong Duong, My Son A1, and Thap Mam by meticulously comparing motifs on colonnettes and pediments.

Stern’s framework remains the standard benchmark for dating and curating exhibits at the Da Nang Cham Museum.