Why did John Ruskin consider Gothic architecture morally important?

John Ruskin viewed Gothic architecture as morally superior because he believed it served as a direct expression of a society’s spiritual and social health. In his view, the Gothic style embodied "a state of pure national faith, and domestic virtue," standing in stark contrast to Renaissance architecture, which he associated with "concealed national infidelity, and domestic corruption."1

Ruskin argued that art and architecture are necessarily reflections of the social conditions in which they are produced. A key component of this moral framework was his belief that Gothic art celebrated "imperfection," which he contrasted with the mechanical regularity of modern mass production. By allowing individual workmen a significant degree of creative freedom and artistic fulfillment, Gothic architecture respected the humanity of the laborer. Ruskin maintained that one should not take pleasure in an object that was not created with pleasure, a principle that fueled his critique of industrial capitalism and inspired the Arts and Crafts movement. Ultimately, he saw the decline of Gothic vitality as a consequence of the spiritual decay brought on by the materialistic Renaissance.23