Event Details | Sunday 13 September | 16:30 – 19:30

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.’