Presented by John Ruskin to the Ruskin Drawing School (University of Oxford), 1875; transferred from the Ruskin Drawing School to the Ashmolean Museum, c.1949.
Ruskin, John, Catalogue of the Educational Series (London: Smith, Elder, 1871), cat. Educational no. 51
Ruskin, John, Catalogue of the Educational Series (London: Spottiswoode, 1874), cat. Educational no. 101
Ruskin, John, ‘Educational Series 1878’, 1878, Oxford, Oxford University Archives, cat. Educational no. 101
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. Educational no. 101
I may much better this group hereafter, but it is enough at present to explain what I mean. I wish there were another English word for my meaning, but I suppose Sentiment is now classical among us, & its use typically represented by the division of the parties respecting Thirlmere - those who wish to drink it calling themselves the practical party, and calling those who like better to look at it the sentimental party. France will perhaps some day be able to drink the Loire and rejoice in the ability. In the mean time Turner, and such other sentimental persons enjoy looking at it; and Turner with a depth of feeling which makes his Loire series the most touching, and in many respects the most precious, of all his consistently arranged groups of drawings. I etched this one for 'Modern Painters' with extreme care and it is the only etching in the book which satisfied me. I permit myself to place it here, having been permitted by Fate to place the series itself in the University Galleries.