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

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

Ruskin's Rudimentary series, 3rd ed. (1872)

Items marked 'M' are drawings "by my own Hand" (by Ruskin), P are photographs, E engravings and A by Ruskin's Assistant, Arthur Burgess.

Rudimentary Cover

Ruskin's Catalogues: 1 object

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Ruskin assembled a diverse collection of artworks for his drawing school in Oxford, including watercolours by J.M.W. Turner and drawings by Ruskin himself.  He taught students to draw as a way of educating them in how to look at art and the world around them.  

Ruskin divided his Teaching Collection into four main series: Standard, Reference, Educational and Rudimentary. Each item was placed in a numbered frame, arranged in a set of cabinets, so that they all had a specific position in the Collection (although Ruskin often moved items about as his ideas changed). 

When incorporated into the Ashmolean’s collection in the last century, the works were removed from the frames and the sequence was lost.  Here, Ruskin's original catalogues, notes and instructions - in his chosen order and in his own words - are united with images of the works and links to modern curatorial descriptions.

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Photograph of the Loggia del Consiglio, Verona A. Perini

Location

    • Western Art Print Room

Position in Ruskin’s Collection

Ruskin's Catalogues

  • Ruskin's Rudimentary series, 3rd ed. (1872)

    R|102} Senate House, Verona, by Fra Giocondo, showing the forms of buildings which were associated with the painting of Cima, Bellini, Carpaccio, Mantegna, and Luini. Exquisite of its kind. P.
  • Ruskin's Rudimentary series 4th ed. (1872)

    R|102} Senate House, Verona, by Fra Giocondo, showing the forms of buildings which were associated with the painting of Cima, Bellini, Carpaccio, Mantegna, and Luini. Exquisite of its kind. P.
  • Ruskin's Rudimentary series, 5th ed. (1873)

    R|102} Senate House, Verona, by Fra Giocondo, showing the forms of buildings which were associated with the painting of Cima, Bellini, Carpaccio, Mantegna, and Luini. Exquisite of its kind. P.
  • Ruskin's revision to the Rudimentary series (1878)

    remains 102.

    I oppose instantly to the mass of the Coliseumthe most perfect work I know of the delicatest architecture derived from it, combining the most exquisite materials in marble and metal with elaborate fresco-painting. This building of Fra Giocondo cannot be surpassed in fineness of proportion or in delicate application of local colour. A portion of the facade drawn by M.r. Bunney is placed among our working drawings, but, though finished with extreme care, gives only a feeble idea of the beauty of its colour, which by my request was only represented as it is, that is to say, in a much faded condition. The original tone of it may be sufficiently imagined from the next example.

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