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Unpublished manuscript catalogue for proposed re-organisation of the Rudimentary series.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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Dunstanborough Castle (from the Liber Studiorum) Turner

  • Ruskin text

    156. Dunstanborough ?

    Completion of the same subject; quite one of the most characteristic pieces of our wild and impressive Northern Landscape, seen under quiet evening-light. I often wonder that Turner did not take more pains with the near sea which is curiously hard at the edges of the waves; and yet, practically, I never tire of the picture.

  • Details

    Artist/maker
    Turner (Joseph Mallord William Turner) (1775 - 1851) (designer, etcher)
    Charles Turner (1773 - 1857) (engraver)
    Object type
    print
    Material and technique
    etching and mezzotint on paper
    Dimensions
    207 x 291 mm (plate); 253 x 338 mm (sheet)
    Associated people
    Charles Turner (1773 - 1857) (publisher)
    Associated place
    Inscription
    Recto:
    all within the plate mark, etched:
    top centre: A
    bottom left: Drawn & Etched by J.M.W. Turner Esqr. R.A. P.P.
    bottom right: Engraved by C. Turner
    bottom centre: Dunstanborough Castle, the Picture in the possession of W. Penn Esqr. | London Published June. 10. 1808. by C. Turner No. 50. Warren Street, Fitzroy Square
    just within the plate, bottom left: Proof

    bottom right, in ink: 93

    Verso:
    centre, the Ruskin School's stamp
    just below, in ink: T.4.
    centre right, a second impression of the Ruskin School's stamp
    Provenance

    Presumably presented by John Ruskin to the Ruskin Drawing School (University of Oxford); first recorded in the Ruskin Drawing School in 1878; transferred from the Ruskin Drawing School to the Ashmolean Museum c.1949

    No. of items
    1
    Accession no.
    WA.RS.RUD.156
  • Subject terms allocated by curators:

    Subjects

  • References in which this object is cited include:

    References

    Finberg, Alexander J., The History of Turner's Liber Studiorum: With a New Catalogue Raisonné (London: Ernest Benn, 1924), no. 14.I

    Ruskin, John, ‘Rudimentary Series 1878’, 1878, Oxford, Oxford University Archives, cat. Rudimentary no. 156

    Ruskin, John, ‘The Ruskin Art Collection at Oxford: Catalogues, Notes and Instructions’, Edward T. Cook and Alexander Wedderburn, eds, The Works of John Ruskin: Library Edition, 39 (London: George Allen, 1903-1912), 21, cat. Rudimentary no. 156

Location

    • Western Art Print Room

Ruskin's Catalogues

  • Ruskin's revision to the Rudimentary series (1878)

    156. Dunstanborough ?

    Completion of the same subject; quite one of the most characteristic pieces of our wild and impressive Northern Landscape, seen under quiet evening-light. I often wonder that Turner did not take more pains with the near sea which is curiously hard at the edges of the waves; and yet, practically, I never tire of the picture.

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