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

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

Ruskin's revision to the Rudimentary series (1878)

Unpublished manuscript catalogue for proposed re-organisation of the Rudimentary series.

Rudimentary manu 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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A Study of Greek clay Cantharus John Ruskin

Location

    • Western Art Print Room

Position in Ruskin’s Collection

Ruskin's Catalogues

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

    R|53} Study of Greek Clay Cantharus (not to be written Kantharos, in English, nor Acanthus, akanthos). M.
  • Ruskin's Rudimentary series 4th ed. (1872)

    R|53} Study of Greek clay cantharus (not to be written kantharos, in English, nor acanthus, akanthos The barbarous practice of spelling Greek words in the Greek manner when they occur in the writing of English, was, I believe, first introduced by Mr. Grote, and in his case meant merely that his knowledge of Greek sat uneasily upon him. I shall never have enough, myself, to feel a like discomfort; but am in this the better representative of the majority of English readers, in whose name I resolutely decline to have Socrates spelt for me with a k, and a pair of compasses over the o to remind me it is a long one. ).M.
  • Ruskin's Rudimentary series, 5th ed. (1873)

    R|53} Study of Greek clay cantharus (not to be written kantharos, in English, nor acanthus, akanthos The barbarous practice of spelling Greek words in the Greek manner when they occur in the writing of English, was, I believe, first introduced by Mr. Grote, and in his case meant merely that his knowledge of Greek sat uneasily upon him. I shall never have enough, myself, to feel a like discomfort; but am in this the better representative of the majority of English readers, in whose name I resolutely decline to have Socrates spelt for me with a k, and a pair of compasses over the o to remind me it is a long one. ).M.
  • Ruskin's revision to the Rudimentary series (1878)

    remains 53.

    Rapid study of Greek cantharus‘cantharus’, to show the best method of drawing Greek vases. No more work ought ever to be put on a drawing of them than is used here. The skill of the draughtsman is to be shown in drawing the right curves with the edge of his wash, and in getting true chiaroscuro with little trouble. A thoroughly good artist would have got it with less work than is used here, but average students need not expect to do so.

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