Ruskin v. Palladio

Andrea Palladio freed European architecture to the full glories of the classical Renaissance, founding a style that is fresh and vigorous to this day. To John Ruskin he was a hidebound traditionalist who buried the soaring inspiration of European Gothic in out of date rules and pagan temples. He was the apostle of ugliness and impiety. Join the debate.

Defending Ruskin:  

Simon Jenkins Author, Guardian and Evening Standard columnist and Chairman of the National Trust.

Professor Hewison Critic, cultural historian and biographer of John Ruskin.

Defending Palladio:

Robert Adam Architect working in the classical tradition, writer and broadcaster.

Dr Manolo Guerci Research Fellow in Architectural History and Theory at St Catharine's College, University of Cambridge, specialising in Early-Modern European palaces, with special emphasis on connections between Italy, France and Britain in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.

Chair:

Jeremy O'Grady  Editor-In-Chief of The Week magazine and co-founder of Intelligence Squared.