The Elements of Drawing, John Ruskin’s teaching collection at Oxford

The Elements of Drawing, John Ruskin’s teaching collection at Oxford

Learn to draw

Stephen Farthing R.A. presents eight practical drawing classes using John Ruskin’s teaching collections to explain the basic principles of drawing.

Drawing classes

Lesson 3: toned paper

How toned paper can be used  to provide the mid-tone in a drawing, which records where light  and shade  fall as a means  of  picturing an  object.

Click on the thumbnail images to zoom into the original drawing and to see more information about the object:

Detail of the Equestrian Statue on the Summit of the Tomb of Cangrande I della Scala, Verona (Ruskin, John - Detail of the Equestrian Statue on the Summit of the Tomb of Cangrande I della Scala, Verona)

Further examples for teachers and students:

Drawing of the Nativity and Annunciation to the Shepherds from the Bronze Doors of San Zeno Maggiore, Verona, enlarged from a Photograph (Burgess, Arthur - Drawing of the Nativity and Annunciation to the Shepherds from the Bronze Doors of San Zeno Maggiore, Verona, enlarged from a Photograph)    Capitals of a Doorway at San Fermo Maggiore, Verona (Bunney, John Wharlton - Capitals of a Doorway at San Fermo Maggiore, Verona)

Arts and Humanities Research Council

University of Oxford

The Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art

Ashmolean

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