Includes bibliographical references and index.

The Image of the Architect is a critical historical study that traces the shifting public perception and professional self-image of the architect from the eighteenth century to the late twentieth century.

Andrew Saint argues that the profession's ideology has historically prioritized individualism and artistic genius (as seen in figures like the hero-architect of Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead or the master builders of the Renaissance) over organizational skills, technical competence, and social responsibility. This emphasis has resulted in a frequent clash between the architect’s self-conception and the practical realities of the building industry.