The Seven Lamps of Architecture, Library Ed‪.‬

Through works like "The Seven Lamps of Architecture" and "The Stones of Venice," Ruskin had a tremendous influence on the English and American architectural worlds throughout the 19th century. While disparaging the state of British society and yearning for the seemingly more harmonious Middle Ages, Ruskin promoted the artistic expressions of the era, particularly the soaring spires and pointed arches of Gothic architecture. Believing that a building's form expresses the inner emotional state of its creator, Ruskin argued that beautiful architecture could only be produced by moral people (and thus, the morally healthy Middle Ages resulted in truly beautiful architecture). Ruskin's architectural philosophy not only helped spark the popularity of the Gothic Revival in the mid-19th century, but also directly influenced the Arts and Crafts Movement that flourished in Europe and the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.