ENIn the paper an attempt is made to reveal the originality of Jurgis Baltrušaitis comparative theory of art and to determine its place in the turn of the problems of the comparative methodology. The article presents a detailed analysis of the sources of J. Baltrušaitis theory of art of the precursors and contemporaries. A special and critical attention is paid to his teachings about art, conceptions of the development of style and a dialogue between art traditions of East - West.