Ruskin

Ruskin, JOHN (l819-1900), was the son of a merchant, and was born in London. He was educated privately and at Christ Church, Oxford, graduating in due course and carrying off the Newdegate prize. His love of art found expression in his early attempts at painting and in the pamphlet written by him in defence of Turner and his metbod, which was afterwards expanded into the great work, Modern Painters, the five volumes of which, illustrated by himself, appeared between 1843 and 1860. His views found general favour, and his beautiful style and poetical diction gained him great applause, but several critics severely criticised his opinions. Previous to publishing his second volume he had visited Italy, and some of his finest works are due to that visit. In 1849 appeared his Seven Lamps of Architecture, wbich was followed by The Stones of Venice (1851-53), a work illustrated by some of his own drawings, Lectures on Art (1859), Unto this Last (1862), Ethics of the Dust and Sesame and Lilies (1865), Crown of Wild Olive (1866), Aratra Pentelici (1872), Val D' Arno (1875), and others of equal note. These were mostly reprints of lectures delivered by him with great success at Oxford and Cambridge. He was Slade Professor of Art at his own university and Rede Lecturer at Cambridge, of which he was made an honorary LL.D. in 1867. So many students attended his Slade lectures that he was obliged to deliver each one twice. He finally resigned the post in 1884. His autobiography, under the name of Praeterita, appeared from 1885-1887, and in 1893 his Poems were published. He died in 1900, having lived in retirement for several years before his death, A Life was issued in 1893 by Collingwood.