 As he neared completion of the first volume, however, Schnaase was surprised by the appearance of a "Handbuch der Kunstgeschichte" ("Handbook of art history") (1841) by Franz Theodor Kugler.Kugler's work, which he claimed to be "the first comprehensive survey of art" seemed to duplicate Schnaase's project.Schnaase became convinced, however, that if Kugler was his better in technical matters, he could still offer a unique, general viewpoint of the development of art.