Gerard Baldwin Brown : Edinburgh and the Preservation Movement (1880-1930)
In 1880 Gerard Baldwin Brown (1849-1932) was appointed by Edinburgh University as its first Watson Gordon Professor of Fine Art. Over the fifty-year period that he held the professorship he was to become well-known as a scholar of Anglo-Saxon art and culture, preparing the first comprehensive study of Anglo-Saxon church architecture in England as part of a six volume study of the arts in early England. In 1905 he produced a monograph, The Care of Ancient Monuments (Cambridge, 1905) which provided a comprehensive assessment of the protective systems in place across Europe and America for the protection of ancient buildings and monuments and made strong recommendations for the strengthening of the protective measures in Britain. These recommendations led amongst other things to the creation of Britainâs first national inventory bodies but Baldwin Brownâs call for the protection of occupied ancient buildings to be improved was not successful. Although The Care of Ancient Monuments appeared to be a departure from Baldwin Brownâs usual interests, this research suggests that it formed part of the authorâs longer-term commitment to the protection of long-lived elements of the built environment, and that his
Cooper, Malcolm Ashton
Gerard Baldwin Brown ; preservation ; Edinburgh ; art history ; archaeology
Gerard Baldwin Brown : Edinburgh and the Preservation Movement (1880-1930). In 1880 Gerard Baldwin Brown (1849-1932) was appointed by Edinburgh University as its first Watson Gordon Professor of Fine Art. Over the fifty-year period that he held the professorship he was to become well-known as a scholar of Anglo-Saxon art and culture, preparing the first comprehensive study of Anglo-Saxon church architecture in England as part of a six volume study of the arts in early England. In 1905 he produced a monograph, The Care of Ancient Monuments (Cambridge, 1905) which provided a comprehensive assessment of the protective systems in place across Europe and America for the protection of ancient buildings and monuments and made strong recommendations for the strengthening of the protective measures in Britain. These recommendations led amongst other things to the creation of Britainâs first national inventory bodies but Baldwin Brownâs call for the protection of occupied ancient buildings to be improved was not successful. Although The Care of Ancient Monuments appeared to be a departure from Baldwin Brownâs usual interests, this research suggests that it formed part of the authorâs longer-term commitment to the protection of long-lived elements of the built environment, and that his
brown edinburgh preservation movement brown appoint edinburgh university first professor fine_art fifty year_period hold become well_known scholar anglo_saxon art culture prepare first_comprehensive study anglo_saxon church architecture england part volume study art early england produce monograph care ancient monuments cambridge provide_comprehensive assessment protective system place across europe america protection ancient_building monument make_strong recommendation strengthen protective measure britain recommendation lead amongst thing creation britain first national inventory body brown call protection occupy ancient_building improve successful although care ancient monuments appear departure brown usual interest suggest form_part author longer_term commitment protection long_lived element build_environment