Ruskin's early work and interests

In this picture Ruskin has been depicted surrounded by the paraphernalia of writing and drawing, and has been placed against a background depicting 'Nature'.

Ruskin's various attempts to use writing and drawing to respond to both the natural world and to (what he felt to be almost synonymous,) the works of Turner, would dominate his future career.

George Richmond: The author of 'Modern Painters'

John Ruskin: Trees and Rocks

This display contains examples of work by the artists who first inspired Ruskin, including Turner, Samuel Prout and J.D. Harding, as well as drawings and watercolours by Ruskin himself, including several made to be engraved as illustrations to the book.

His finely-tuned prose and draughtsmanship would be deployed throughout Modern Painters, encouraging people to look on the natural world, and society, anew.

Only a profound appreciation of natural processes, Ruskin felt, could transform social values, and begin the task of reversing the psychological and environmental damage wrought by the industrial revolution.