An Ethical Study On John Ruskin's Architectural Theories In The Stones Of Venice

John Ruskin,a famous art critic of Britain in the Victorian period,focuses on analyzing the beauty of art in his early years but turns his attention to sociological criticism in his later years.The Stones of Venice is created during the period of transition of his focus.It is Ruskin's deep thought of morality from the perspective of architecture.Although there have already been many researches into Ruskin's theories of art,the study of Ruskin's criticism of Gothic architecture is still limited.Especially in China,there is few in this field.But the morality represented by Gothic architecture is an important aspect of Ruskin's views on ethics displayed by architecture and is also the start of Ruskin's exploration of social criticism.As a result,a systematic and comprehensive study of the moral values manifested by Ruskin's theory of Gothic architecture is of significance.The thesis makes an analysis of the morality expressed by Ruskin's comments on Gothic architecture.It can be found out that there are three aspects of morality manifested by Ruskin's praise for Gothic architecture.They are anti-alienation,freedom and modesty represented by six characteristics of Gothic architecture and the six characters of medieval workers summarized by Ruskin,namely,"Savageness","Changefulness","Naturalism","Grotesqueness","Rigidity","Redundance" and medieval laborers' "Savageness or Rudeness","Love of Change","Love of Nature","Disturbed Imagination","Obstinacy" and "Generosity".Ruskin's discussion about the "Savageness" representing the medieval workers'"Rudeness" displays his opposition to the alienation of labor.Medieval architects were not required to achieve the state of perfection.Every laborer's humanity was well respected.Ruskin points out that a piece of work should be done by one single person and should not be segmented.Craftsmen should be treated as individuals instead of the tools and machines for production."Changefulness" showing workers'love of change and "Naturalism" representing craftsmen's love of nature prove medieval workers' freedom in the working process.Because of the freedom given to medieval craftsmen,they had the opportunity to observe nature carefully and to have the creative inspiration.Their independent thoughts were respected and preserved in their works.Ruskin considers that real freedom should be the freedom of thinking.The works of free craftsmen are often full of variety and vitality.The value of modesty is manifested in "Naturalism" and "Redundance".For people in the Middle Ages,nature is the gift from God and architecture is the offering to please God.Medieval craftsmen show their gratitude to God by decorating the architecture with patterns of natural objects.So "Naturalism" is medieval workers' modesty to God."Redundance" is about medieval builders' devotion to the construction regardless of rewards since they feel that no matter how hard they work,they would still fail to satisfy God.The only thing they can do is to endlessly make painstaking efforts to try to make their works better.Therefore,"Redundance" also shows medieval workers'humility to God.