Architects and the 'Building World' from Chambers to Ruskin: Constructing Authority

Brian Hanson examines how the authority of architects was created within the changing working practices of eighteenth and nineteenth century British architecture. Incorporating new methods, he compares diverse figures, such as Chambers, Soane, Barry, Pugin, Scott, and Street, and provides a new context for Ruskin's arguments about "The Nature of Gothic." He demonstrates how Ruskin is closer to the classical tradition represented by Chambers than the Arts and Crafts Movement of Webb and Morris, which he supposedly inspired.

This study looks beyond issues of style to examine how the authority of architects was created within the changing working practices of eighteenth and nineteenth century British architecture. Incorporating new methods, especially those developed for the social content of poetry and landscape painting, Brian Hanson draws comparisons between diverse figures, such as Chambers, Soane, Barry, Pugin, Scott, and Street, and provides a new context for Ruskin's arguments about "The Nature of Gothic." Hanson concludes by demonstrating how Ruskin is closer to the classical tradition represented by Chambers than the Arts and Crafts Movement of Web and Morris, which he supposedly inspired.