Why did Victorian architects use Venetian Gothic details after John Ruskin wrote The Stones of Venice?

Victorian architects adopted Venetian Gothic details following the publication of John Ruskin’s The Stones of Venice (1851–53) because his work provided both aesthetic inspiration and moral justification for the style.1

Ruskin’s influence was significant for several reasons:

• Moral and Social Sanction: Ruskin argued that Gothic architecture was the direct expression of a society’s moral health, associating the Venetian Gothic period with "pure national faith" and "domestic virtue," while viewing the Renaissance as a sign of decline.12
• Mellifluous Advocacy: His evocative, persuasive descriptions of Venetian architecture enraptured architects and clients alike, establishing the style as a particularly appropriate model for modern British buildings.1
• Structural Polychromy: Ruskin’s writings encouraged the use of rich color combinations and decorative details, which architects began applying to various building types, including banks and shops.31
• The Nature of Gothic: Beyond specific Venetian details, his influential chapter "The Nature of Gothic" championed the value of "imperfection" and creative freedom for the individual workman, which stood in stark contrast to the mechanical regularity of mass-produced, Neoclassical designs.1