The Seven Lamps of Architecture
John Ruskin
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The Seven Lamps of Architecture, published in May 1849, is an extended essay written by the English art critic and theorist John Ruskin. The 'lamps' of the title are Ruskin's principles of architecture, which he later enlarged upon in the three-volume The Stones of Venice. To an extent, they codified some of the contemporary thinking behind the Gothic Revival. At the time of its publication A.W.N. Pugin and others had already advanced the ideas of the Revival and it was well under way in practice. Ruskin offered little new to the debate, but the book helped to capture and summarise the thoughts of the movement. The Seven Lamps also proved a great popular success, and received the approval of the ecclesiologists typified by the Cambridge Camden Society, who criticised in their publication The Ecclesiologist lapses committed by modern architects in ecclesiastical commissions. (Summary from Wikipedia) (8 hr 58 min)
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Classics Reader
Ruskin forcefully lays out his opinions on the principles of good architecture. The original work included illustrations, which would be interesting, but I think you can still follow the discussion without him. The reader has a grand style, something like Sean Connery playing Moses. I found it captivating even if sometimes overwrought. Thank you, sir, for making this Victorian classic so accessible.
A LibriVox Listener
Brilliant narration by Todd Ulbrich, well-suited to Ruskin’s tone and prophetic vision!
Jacqinthebox
Amazing just for the language and the incredible reader.
Willard
Reading is very good. Strong consistency and inflection.
Ke99en 9t a lot 999h to get
A LibriVox Listener