A dramatic re-creation by Paul O’Keeffe of one of the greatest lectures of the 19th century, delivered in Edinburgh in 1853, by the eminent art critic John Ruskin, who caused an uproar when aiming his witty and wilfully contentious views at the Henry Playfair Royal Scottish Academy building. Image Credit: John Everett Millais, John Ruskin, 1853-54, Ashmolean Museum Supported by BTO, sponsor of the 2026 PhotoDalkeith programme. In 1853, the eminent Victorian art critic John Ruskin delivered his first public lectures in Edinburgh. His subject was Architecture and his message – to the proud citizens of the Neo-Classical ‘Athens of the North’ – was that the Greek style of building was bad, ugly and oppressive and that they would be much better off adopting the Gothic style instead. His witty, outspoken and wilfully contentious views caused an uproar. ‘Do not ask any architect of established reputation whether I am right or not’, he told his audience. ‘You might as well ask a Roman Catholic archbishop his opinion of Martin Luther.’

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