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Unpublished manuscript catalogue for proposed re-organisation of the Rudimentary series.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 Japanese Porcelain, enclosed in Wickerwork John Ruskin

Location

    • Western Art Print Room

Position in Ruskin’s Collection

Ruskin's Catalogues

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

    R|61} Study of Japanese Porcelain, enclosed in wickerwork. M.
  • Ruskin's Rudimentary series 4th ed. (1872)

    R|61} Study of Japanese Porcelain, enclosed in wickerwork. M.
  • Ruskin's Rudimentary series, 5th ed. (1873)

    R|61} Study of Japanese Porcelain, enclosed in wickerwork. M.
  • Ruskin's revision to the Rudimentary series (1878)

    remains 61.

    Rapid study for a first practice in colour. Each drawing is to be carefully, but lightly, outlined in pencil first, and then executed with one wash touched while it is wet, doing as much as is possible on those terms - that is to say, the blue inside of the cup is to be done with one coat of very wet grey-blue, leavR. ing the high lights with sharp edge and putting a little black before the coat is dry into it for shadow. The brown outside is to be done with one coat of brown, putting yellow and grey into it as it dries. As soon as it is quite dry nothing more is to be done to it. When the inner coat is quite dry, the blue pattern is to be put upon it with sig single touches of the brush, and the dark lip to be done last, with the few darkest touches at the bottom. The lower figure is to be done in the same manner, all with one wash; except the dark lip which is to be done when the rest is dry.

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