The life and work of Sir Robert Rowand Anderson, 1834-1921
Abstract
Sir Robert Rowand Anderson was the dominant figure in Scottish
architecture during and beyond the late Victorian period. Although
his oeuvre is for the most part well known, and notwithstanding the
fact that the historical drawings from his office were made available
for study in 1979, his life and work have not hitherto bean
investigated in depth. The purpose of the thesis which follows is
to make good this deficiency.
While the absence of family papers has posed problems ever since
Anderson's death, (evident from the biographical errors in his
obituaries), a large number of primary sources were discovered in the
course of research. These included Anderson's scrapbook, notebooks
and a diary, correspondence relating to his earlier commissions, and
numerous letters in public and private collections. In the last
few years, several short but helpful publications on specific aspects
of his work have also appeared.
Drawing on this material, the thesis presents a chronological
account of Anderson's career dealing, in Chapter One, with his hitherto
uninvestigated early life and training. Chapter Two seta the scene
for the evolution of his theoretical position, not previously
examined. Chapters Three and Four deal with the expansion of his
practice and his rise to eminence, while Chapters Five, Six and Seven
cover his activities at the height of his fame, such as his restorations,
and his committee and educational work. The Appendices include
Obituaries and notes on the sources of his architectural theory, as
well as a list of works and a quantification of his influence.
The thesis makes it clear that the popular view of Anderson
as a highly professional and gifted manipulator of historical
styles is inadequate: he was a thoroughgoing functionalist.
It also draws attention to the great influence he exerted on the
generation immediately following, not only through his conservative
restoration and the high quality of his design, but also by
actively fostering a Scottish tradition in architecture and its
associated crafts.
Type
Thesis, PhD Doctor of Philosophy
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