author
Richard Glazier
1851–1918
An influential British art teacher rather than a full-time practicing architect, this late Victorian writer is best remembered for making historic ornament and design history accessible to students and craftsmen. His best-known book helped generations of readers see architecture and decoration as part of a long, connected artistic tradition.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in 1851 in March, Cambridgeshire, Richard Glazier built his career in art education. He taught in Rochdale and later at the Manchester Technical School, and in 1892 became head master of the Manchester Municipal School of Art, a post he held for 26 years.
Although he qualified as an associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects, he did not go into regular architectural practice. Contemporary accounts describe him as a teacher deeply interested in design as something that should serve industry as well as beauty, and as someone admired by generations of students for his helpfulness and sympathy.
Glazier is best known as the author of A Manual of Historic Ornament, a richly illustrated guide prepared for students and craftsmen. The book surveys decorative styles across periods and cultures, reflecting his goal of giving readers a practical, visual understanding of architecture and the applied arts. He died on March 30, 1918, while on holiday in Ingleton.