Скачать или смотреть A Scottish Perspective on John Ruskin’s influence on the Arts & Crafts Movement

From the 2020 "Ruskin, Roycroft and the Arts & Crafts" virtual conference. Why Scottish? Because Ruskin’s intellectual and cultural development was strongly influenced by his Scottish parents, his visits to Scotland and a number of key events in his life took place in Scotland. Moreover, Scotland is rich in architecture, art and craft of the Arts & Crafts Movement.


Ruskin’s influence was strong on three key organizations founded at much the same time, the Guild of St George (which he founded himself in 1871), the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (founded by William Morris 1877 but with Ruskin’s specific encouragement and support) and the Art Workers’ Guild (1884, whose members felt directly inspired by both Ruskin and Morris). All three organizations flourish exceedingly today and provide us with rich evidence that Ruskin’s ideas and principles have had an enduring presence. The lecture will contend that Ruskin influenced the Arts & Crafts Movement both directly and indirectly. The direct influence was transmitted by architects, designers and craftspeople born in the 1830s and 1840s, who read his writings and often had contact with him; pre-eminently Philip Webb, Edward Burne-Jones, William Morris and others of that time; and through architects, designers and craftspeople born in the 1850s and 1860s, pre-eminently Robert Rowand Anderson, Robert Weir Schultz and Ernest Gimson (who was both architect and also practitioner of designing and making some of the very best Arts & Crafts furniture). Ruskin’s influence has also been profound on ideas and best practice in the preservation and tender treatment of historic buildings of all kinds and on our past and current thinking about heritage. Finally, one or two current projects will be touched on that illustrate Ruskin’s passionate commitment to social reform and the practical exercise of compassion: in the end, ‘making lives better’ was what he preached and practised, together with his plea that we should deeply see the world around us. Truly and deeply seeing can be seen as one of the leading characteristics of the Arts & Crafts Movement.

Presenter Peter Burman studied art and architectural history at King’s College, Cambridge. His professional career has alternated between working for major heritage bodies and University posts. He chaired the Fabric Advisory Committee of St Paul’s Cathedral, London for 20 years, and was Arts Adviser to Lincoln Cathedral for 10 years. He continues to be an adviser and consultant on heritage matters, including conservation and interpretation. He is a member of the Art Workers’ Guild since 1973; a former trustee of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings; and a current Director of Ruskin’s Guild of St George with portfolios on International Relations and Craftspeople & Craftsmanship.