Description

Arms’s admiration for Gothic architecture was a reflection of a revival exemplified by the publication of John Ruskin’s 1951 book, The Stones of Venice. The influence of Gothic art spread to America where Ralph Adams Cram, an architect and writer active around the turn of the century, also vigorously supported the Gothic style as one of spirituality, honest design, and fine craftsmanship. In an era marked by increased modernization and urban growth, Cram celebrated pre-industrial values such as honesty, truth, and beauty, reflecting a nostalgia for a simpler, more sincere age.