THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES RUSKIN'S LETTERS. e tt m a r k M 1 1 1 . 5.0;.' ' LETTERS FROM JOHN RUSKIN TO WILLIAM WARD. €iiUti Jju Stomas 3. SSHisr. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. London : Privately Printed. [893. THE IMPRESSION of this book is limited to a few copies for Private Circulation only. 18 CONTENTS VOL. I. PAGE PREFACE XV LETTER I. London. $th February, 1855 . . 3 LETTER II. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. 1855 ... . 6 LETTER III. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. 24//* February, 1856 .... 10 LETTER IV. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. 14M March, 1856 . . . .11 viii CONTENTS. PAGE LETTER V. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. March, 1856 . . . . .13 LETTER VI. Denmark Hill, London, S. L. Wednesday. J.S56 . . . . 15 LETTER VII. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. 1856 . ... .17 LETTER VIII. Thun. 1st July, 1856 18 LETTER IX. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. 1857 20 LETTER X. Blair Athol. 22nd August, 1857 . .22 LETTER XI. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. \^th November, 1857 . . -23 CONTENTS. ix PAGE LETTER XII. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. circa 1857 or 1858 .... 25 LETTER XIII. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. 25/// January, 1858 .... 27 LETTER XIV. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. Wednesday, 15/// April, 1858 . 29 LETTER XV. Rheinfelden. 23rd A fay, 1858 31 LETTER XVI. Baumgarten. 28/// May, 1858 33 LETTER XVII. Bellinzona, Switzerland. 211////W. 1858 35 LETTER XVIII. l.ago Maggiore, Italy. yh July, 1S58 39 CONTENTS. PAGE LETTER XIX. Turin. list July, 185S .... 42 LETTER XX. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. \$th December, 1858 . . 44 LETTER XXI. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. Xmas, 1858 46 LETTER XXII. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. tyh February, i860 .... 48 LETTER XXIII. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. \st October, i860 .... 50 LETTER XXIV. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. iyi/i December, i860 . . 52 LETTER XXV. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. ijt/i December, i860 .... 54 CONTENTS. xi PAGE LETTER XXVI. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. January, 1861 . 56 LETTER XXVII. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. 22nd February, 1861 . . . . 57 LETTER XXVIII. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. 29/// May, 1 86 1 . -59 LETTER XXIX. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. 1862 60 LETTER XXX. Mornex. 26th December, 1862 61 LETTER XXXI. Mornex, Switzerland. i$th February, 1863 ... 63 LETTER XXXII. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. loth June, 1863 .... 64 xii CONTENTS. PAGE LETTER XXXIII. Chamounix. 25//; September, 1863 ... 65 LETTER XXXIV. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. 16th April, 1866 .... 67 LETTER XXXV. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. St/i August, 1866 . . . .68 LETTER XXXVI. Waterhead, Windermere. St/i August, 1867 . . -69 LETTER XXXVII. Ambleside, Westmoreland. 11/// August, 1867 . . . .72 LETTER XXXVIII. Ambleside, Westmoreland. 12M August, 1867 . . • -73 LETTER XXXIX. Keswick. l$th August, 1867 . . . 76 1 CONTENTS. xiii PAGE LETTER XL. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. 8t/i September, 1867 . . . . 81 LETTER XLI. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. iSt/i September, 1867 .... 84 LETTER XLII. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. loth October, 1867 . . . .87 LETTER XLItl. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. \2th October, 1867 . . . .88 LETTER XLIV. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. 26th October, 1867 .... 89 LETTER XLV. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. 31 st October, 1867 . . . . 9 1 d Frontispiece. Facsimile of Letter ; post-mark Dec. 181/1, 1869. Many of Mr. Ruskin's letters contain slight " thumb- nail " sketches of Turner drawings. The above is given in facsimile as being a fairly representative example. PREFACE. At the request of several admirers of Jorm Ruskin, I have at length con- sented to allow the following letters to be printed. Those whose lives have been influenced by the Master's teach- ing, will, I doubt not, read them with interest ; and to them a few words of explanatory introduction, giving a slight sketch of the history of my relations with Mr. Ruskin, may perhaps be of some assistance. Some time in 1854, a friend — Mr. Henry Swan, late curator of the Ruskin Museum at Sheffield — called upon me, bringing with him Ruskin's xvi PREFACE. Seven Lamps of Architecture, of which he read a few pages. The words came like a revelation, and made a deep im- pression upon me. I longed to know more ; and, learning that the author was actually teaching a drawing class at the Working Men's College (then at No. 31, Red Lion Square), I as soon as possible enrolled myself as a pupil. I well remember the first evening. Upon entering the class- room, full of the expectation of seeing the man whose words had so charmed me, I saw, walking between the easels at which the men were seated, two teachers — one, a dark bearded man with a fine head, looking every inch an artist ; the other, fair and somewhat slightly built, with deep penetrating eyes, and an inexpressible charm of PREFACE. xvii manner. The former was Lowes Dickenson ; the latter, John Ruskin. I was first set to copy a white leather ball, suspended by a string, and told to draw exactly what I saw — making no outline, but merely shading the paper where I saw shade. The result was rather a feeble affair; but I remember that Mr. Ruskin was much taken with my attempt at extreme ac- curacy by putting in even the filaments of the string. After the ball came plaster casts of leaves, fruit, and various natural objects. A tree, cut down by Mr. Ruskin's directions, was also sent from Denmark Hill, and fixed in a corner of the class room for light and shade studies. To our great delight, Mr. Ruskin used continually to bring us treasures from his own xviii PREFACE. collection — minerals, shells, Rembrandt etchings, Albert Diirer and Turner engravings, drawings by William Hunt, Turner, and others. His delightful way of talking about these things afforded us most valuable lessons. To give an example : he one evening took for his subject a cap, and with pen and ink showed us how Rembrandt would have etched, and Albert Diirer engraved it. This at once explained to us the dif- ferent ideas and methods of the two masters. On another evening he would take a subject from Turner's Liber Studiorum, and, with a large sheet of paper and some charcoal, gradually block in the subject, explaining at the same time the value and effect of the lines and masses. Ruskin was a rare presence among PREFACE. xix us, teaching us to feel and see the beauty in things, not how to draw them prettily. He made everything living and full of interest, and disliked servile copy- ing and " niggling." Excessive care he admired, but not work for work's sake. To show this, he would make a rapid drawing by the side of a student's work, that he might see how, with all his elaboration, he had missed the "go" of the thing. He never cared to find fault with your method, unless it were mechanical ; what he did find fault with was want of perception. I recollect that a student once came with his copy of a Liber Studiorum etching, in which he had so entirely missed the feeling of Turner, that Mr. Ruskin, looking at him searchingly, asked him if he had been ill. xx PREFACE. A delightful reminiscence of old times is that of some pleasant rambles a few of us (who could command the leisure) had with Mr. Ruskin through Dulwich Wood— now, alas ! covered with villas. On these occasions we took our sketching materials, and sitting in a favourable spot, perhaps opposite a broken bank partly covered with brambles and topped by a few trees, spoiled a few sheets of paper in trying to make something of it. The result on paper was not worth much ; but Mr. Ruskin's criticisms, and a few touches on our work, gave us some ideas that were worth a great deal. As a wind-up to these sketching parties we adjourned to the Greyhound to tea and some very interesting talk. Upon one of these occasions I gave Mr. PREFACE. xxi Ruskin a favourite book of mine, the Poems of Ralph Waldo Emerson, which he had not seen. He told me at a subsequent meeting that the poem he liked best was The Mountain and the Squirrel. He afterwards gave me the Poems of Samuel Rogers, illustrated with Turner's exquisite vignettes. These were a great delight, and I felt myself in possession of a small Turner gallery. In 1857 Mr. Ruskin published his Elements of Drawing, and the reference to my name in the preface brought me some work in the way of teaching and corresponding. At this time Turner's pictures and drawings, bequeathed by him to the nation, were exhibited at Marlborough House. I was at once sent by Mr. Ruskin to make copies for xxii PREFACE. him ; and this copying was continued at the South Kensington Museum, whither the pictures were removed ; and after- wards at the National Gallery, where they now rest. How deeply Mr. Ruskin was interested in this work the following letters will abundantly prove. In the year 1877 the Fine Art Society opened in New Bond Street with an exhibition of my Turner copies, kindly lent by Mr. Ruskin. As a relief from this close work at the National Gallery, Mr. Ruskin sent me, in company with Mr. George Allen, for a walking tour up the valley of the Meuse, to see and sketch some of the subjects of Turner's drawings. I after- wards went to Luxemburg, a favourite sketching-ground of Turner's, with the same object. It was not an easy matter PREFACE. xxiii to discover Turner's points of view, but when they were discovered, I always found that I required two pages of my sketch-book to get in as much of the subject as Turner had compressed into one page of his. The only subject which still remains to be noticed, is, I think, that of the photographs referred to in the letters. These photographs Mr. Ruskin caused to be taken and collected for instruction to his students, and he appointed me agent for their distribution. Other sets were planned, to which Mr. Ruskin in- tended writing notes, but these plans were never carried out. The reader of these letters may easily imagine what a powerful influence John Ruskin has had upon my life. From the first moment of our meeting xxiv PREFACE. I was strongly attracted to him, and I still continue the devoted admirer of Ruskin and Turner. William Ward. Richmond, SURREY. March, 1893. LETTERS VOL. I. I MR. RUSKIN'S LETTERS TO WILLIAM WARD. LETTER I. London, Febrtiary ^th, 1855. My Dear Ward, I was just going to write to you about your drawing, which is very good, though I can't give you much for it, or I should unjustifiably raise the hopes of the other men. We must finish a little more before we can command price. I am only going to give you Ten Shillings for this. It is 4 LETTERS OF worth that to me, though more to you ; but as you get on you will put more value on your work, in less time. I will send you a prettier model ; and then, I think, you will make a very lovely drawing. Don't allow yourself to dwell on the evil, or you will fall into despair; and you will come across veins of good some day. There are beautiful people — beautiful in sense of all good- ness — in the world, here and there ; the worst of it is, most of them are apt to be foolish. I am more oppressed and wonder- struck by people's absurdity than any- thing else in the world ; and then, what wonderful power a single fool has — the wrong way ! But you know all your annoyance, as well as mine, comes of their dis- belief. If you really suppose there is a master to the household, you have nothing to do but to attend to his JOHN RUSK IN. 5 business, and be quiet and comfort- able. Truly yours, J. Ruskin. Always write to me when it does you good, as it does me good too. VOL. I 6 LETTERS OF LETTER II. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. iS55. My Dear Ward, I am much obliged to you for both your letters, and for this last the more in acknowledging the first. I should be glad indeed if I thought that so many of the workmen * were of your mind as to admit of your using that * The "workmen" at the Working Men's College, then located at 31 Red Lion Square. Regarding Mr. Raskin's original connection with the College, Dr. Furnivall writes me the following interesting letter :— "January 31.?/, 1893. "Dear Mr. Wise, . " I was the only one of our set who knew Kuskin, and I didn't dare to hope that he would teach for us ; but I thought he or his father might give us a sub- scription. So I sent him one of our circulars ; and his sympathy with workers made him offer at once to take an \rt Class. I think he wrote straight to Maurice, and then told me about it when I went to see him. We couldn't put him on during our first term, as he JOHN RUSK IN. 7 larere "we would relieve ourselves." O At all events I am truly glad to know whom I can count upon to help them- selves in such a spirit. But, as I said to you, I do not count upon such a temper as an avail- able practical element. All I hope for is to be able to shew, and to make men understand, how they may live more comfortably— get better wages — had to arrange his room, buy easels, &c. He got Rosseui, Burne-Jones. and the rest to help. He fitted the rooms up, and used to drive in and teach every man singly : sit down on each man's stool in his turn, show him where he was wrong, praise him when he was right, and chat in the most pleasant and friendly way. It was a tieat to hear and see him with his men. •'When he found a fellow with brams and love of Art, who wanted to work at it, Ruskin put the student in the way to get on, and didn't spare his money for the purpose. One man (out of the four or five whom he helped) abused his kindness, and did nothing, though Ruskin kept him on the Continent for some fifteen years while the man professed to be studying and painting. But the rest— Allen, Ward, and Bunney— were great successes. " Ruskin's only inducement to help our College, and his men, was his own generous nature. He took infinite pains over, and interest in, the work ; and spent a lot of money upon it. "Sincerely Yours, " F. J. Kurnivall." rc; e ,. a l S o The Working Men's College Magazine, vol. ii., 1060, p. 168, &c.J 8 LETTERS OF and be happier and wiser than they are at present. If, after that, they are led on to better things — well ! But at present, it seems to me, that good fellowship — reciprocal help — exercise of brains with the hands — and such other matters, may be got out of (or into) thousands who would not listen for a moment if one were to begin talking to them of the Influences of the Holy Spirit. All these things are His influences; but I think we have to advise and preach them just as simply as one would advise children, who were fighting in a ditch, to get out of it, wash their faces, and be friends, — without endeavouring, at that moment, to instil into them any very high principles of religion. I am very glad you are thinking of the Protestant Convent plan.* I have * At this time (1855) Mr. Rusltin had an idea of forming a community of Art Workers, who were to be employed by the public in copying illuminated MSS., and various other kinds of Art work. Nothing ever came of the scheme in this particular form, but the idea JOHN RUSK IX. y no doubt we shall carry it out, and that all over the country ; but just because it is so important a scheme, we must not attempt it 'till we are sure of succeeding. Let us all work, but still the main word for us all must be patietice. I hope to meet you then at Norwood on Saturday. Truly yours always, J. Ruskin. was carried out by the employment by Mr. Ruskin him- self of people to work for him in copying pictures, making architectural drawings, engravings, &c. — always in the hope that the public would become interested in the work, and assist with their patronage. It cannot be going too far 10 say that the formation of thr Guild of St. George was in reality a late develop- ment of the "Protestant Convent Plan." VOL. I. D io LETTERS OF LETTER III. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. February 24M, 1856. Dear Ward, As I expect another drawing to night from you, I have doubled what I said. I think I may soon want a drawing master, under me, to refer pupils to whom I have not time to undertake. I think you might soon fit yourself for this, and that it might soon enable you to change your mode of life.* Truly yours, J. R[USKIN.] * Mr. Ward accepted, and held for several years, tlie post of drawing master under Mr. Ruskin. JOHN RUSK J A. 1 1 LETTER IV <5 [Denmark Hill, London, S.E. March \d,th, 1S56.] Dear Ward, I want you to begin Drawing Master on Monday. I consider you at present worth about five shillings a lesson, which therefore you are to ask; but not including therein any omnibus fare, which I shall tell the people I send you to pay. On Monday, at 10 o'clock, evening, I want you to go to Miss Oldfield, n Gloucester Gardens, Hyde Park ; and to shew her how to draw leaves like this of yours. I have told her that she is to expect nothing more from you 12 LETTERS OF than mere instruction in drawing from nature. You must just work a little bit before her, as well as you can ; but I wish you could come out here to- morrow evening (Saturday), about eight o'clock, to have a talk. Write if you cannot, and I will then send you your drawings on Monday. Truly yours, J. RUSKIN. JOHN RUSK J A. LETTER V. [Denmark Hill, London, S.E. March, 1856.] My Dear Ward, Look out at the Architectural Museum, Canon Row, Westminster * (where the fly-leaf of this note will get you admission) a pretty, not too diffi- cult, cast of a leaf. Pack it nicely, and send it to Miss Agnes Harrison, Elmhurst, Upton, Essex.t * See The Bibliography of Raskin, 1893, Nos. 470- 47 2 > 473 all d 484. The " Architectural Museum " still exists at South Kensington. Mr. Ruskin presented to it a number of Casts, Engravings, &c. t Miss Agnes Harrison (now Mrs. Agnes Harrison Macdonell) is a niece of the late Mary Howitt, and the authoress of Martin's I 'ineyard, For tlic King's Dues, Quaker Cousins, and various shorter stories and biographies which have arpeared in English and American periodicals. She married Mr. John Macdonell, of the American Bar, VI >L. I. E i 4 LETTERS OF With it send a copy, consisting of a little bit of cast, drawn with the brush, in grey, not in sepia, three times over. The first, to show how to begin ; the second, carried farther ; the third, finished. Explain, as well as you can in a letter, the mode of working. A very little bit will do. I have told Miss Harrison that she is to pay you two shillings a letter, of course returning your drawing when done with, which will then do for other pupils. You will keep a note of expenses of packing, &c. She will write to you, with her copies, for further instruction. Truly yours, J. Ruskin. How did you get on the other night? Monday or Tuesday will do for Miss H[arrison]'s letter. JOHN R US KIN. 15 LETTER VI. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. Wednesday, [1856.] Dear Ward, I have not been able to attend to anything properly lately, having been in need of rest. I am just coming right again. I lost your letter to Villeneuve, but knew you had received this money. I am very sorry I lost the letter. I hope to see you at the meeting tomorrow- night, but fetch some of Miss H[arri- son]'s drawings with you, and I'll tell you what to do. Truly yours, J. RUSKIN. ]6 LETTERS OF I shall be late at the meeting. If you can't come to it, send me the best specimens you have, the moment you receive this. JOHN RUSK 'IN. 17 LETTER VII. [Denmark Hill, London, S.E. 1856.] My Dear Ward, Consider, and tell me at the tea meeting, if there is any objection now — on your part — to being named in a little book of mine,* just coming out, as a person to whom reference may be made for first lessons, copies, &c. Truly yours, J. R[uskin]. If you make up your mind at once, you can let me know at once. * The Elements of Drawing, ultimately published on June 22nd, 1857. Mr. Ward was " named " in the Preface, p. xxi. VOL. I. F iS LETTERS OF LETTER VIII. Tui'x, July is/, 1856. Dear Ward, My not having written to you before was owing to my doubt as to what I should be able to do in work while abroad. I am well enough, but quite unable for work of head, for the pre- sent ; and I can't yet get out the little book * I spoke of for some time. But I want you to work for me ; and I should like to know whether you have yet got any situation, or whether you could get one not requiring all your time (perhaps only a certain * The Elements 0/ Drawing. (See labt letter.) JOHN RUSK IN. 19 number of days in the week, for a smaller salary) if I could secure you a certain sum annually — say ^50, to eke it out. Meantime I enclose a cheque for £20, for any work you may have been doing for me ; and write to me with full accounts of your prospects. Poste Restante, Villeneuve, Canton Vaud, Switzerland. Most truly yours, J. RUSKIN. 2o LETTERS OF LETTER IX. | Denmark Hill, LONDONj S. E. 1857-1 Dear Ward, I have no doubt that you will draw landscape very beautifully ; both be- cause I know your carefulness and feeling, and because you so entirely understand the Turnerian character; very few people perceive it in that way. You are quite right about that charac- ter of inimitable, unattainable inspira- tion. There is nothing quite like it, that I know of, in Art. My book for beginners* actually goes * The Elements of Drawing. (See ante, letters vii. anil viii.) JOHN RUSK IN. 21 in to the publishers tomorrow, and will not take long to print. Don't be discouraged. I have tried your patience sadly, but hold out for two months more. The beasts won't do you much good, I think. * I must have a talk with you some day soon, before term opens.t I will write to you when I can see you. Truly yours, J. RUSKIN. * This was in reply to a proposal of Mr. Ward's that he should make some studies of animals at the Zoological Society's Gardens, Regent's Park. t •'Term opens": i.e., at the Working Men's College. VOL. 1. LETTERS OF LETTER X. Blair Athol, AugUSt 2211 J, 1S57. My Dear Ward, I'm very glad you have got the Turners, and like them. I have told Allen to pay for them. I hope you will be able to live in the way you enjoy ; indeed, I have no doubt of it. But all enjoyments become mixed with pain eventually, however our life may be occupied ; and there is a certain enjoyment resulting from escape from what is irksome to us, which is itself worth much. Most truly yours, J. RUSKIN. JOHN RUSK IN. 23 LETTER XI. Denmark Hill, London, S.K. November 15///, 1857. Dear Ward, Whatever you do, don't strain your eyes. I hope to be able to help you soon. I certainly shall be able to do so some time next year ; how soon depends on how people like my book, a good deal. But keep your mind easy ; I will certainly get you, some- way, out of your present position, — but if you hurt your eyes with candle- light work, you would put it out of my power. I know now what you can do, 24 LETTERS OF and would almost as soon that till Christmas you did nothing. Truly yours, J. Ruskin. I have crippled myself this year by giving a larger sum to Oxford Museum. JOHN RUSK IX. 25 LETTER XII. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. [circa 1857 or 1858.] My Dear Ward, Send a delicate study of leaves, to Mr. Thos. Dixon, foot of Mill St., Sunderland.* The study to be in grey colour ; with a word or two of explana- tion of the way to work the colour with the point. Keep an account against me for postage, and for the price of every letter — which I arranged the student " Mr. Thomas Dixon, the cork-cutter of Sunderland, to whom the series of letters forming Time and 'Tide by Weave and Tyne were afterwards addressed. VOL. I. II 36 LETTERS OF should pay — when I tell you to send letters to people who cannot afford the payment. Yours truly always, J. Ruskin. JOHN RUSK IN. 27 LETTER XIII. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. January 2$t/i, 185S. My Dear Ward, I will bring a cheque for ten pounds with me to the college on Thursday — which will be due to you from New Year's day for six weeks and a bit — which please keep account of. Don't make any appointment for Friday or Saturday, but come to Marlborough House, as I want to employ you there on some drawings for me. But call as soon as possible between ten and eleven, morning, on Mrs. La Touche, 10 Great Cumberland St. She wishes you to teach her 28 LETTERS (>/■ daughter.* Draw the ball with her fust — then casts. Truly yours always, J. RUSKIN. Be at Marlborough House t next Friday morning, at eleven o'clock, with some pencils — lamp black — and pen — and white paper on small boards, a foot or so square — and wait till I come. * Miss Rosie La Touche. - See Praterita, vol. iii., p. 103 et seq. t" Marlborough House was at that time occupied by the Department of Science and Art, and Turner's pictures were placed there for exhibition pending the provision of a suitable Room or Rooms for their re- ception at the National Gallery. The dispositions of Turner respecting his pictures generally were expressed in codicils to his Will. By these codicils his finished pictures were bequeathed to the Nation 'provided that a room or rooms are added to the present National Gallery, to be, when erected, called "Turner's Gallery." ' One of the codicils referred to (the third in the order of the Will) fixed a term of five years as the period within which the above provisions should be carried out. The fourth codicil extended the term to ten years." — The Bibliography of Ruskin, 1893, vol. i., p. 69. JOHN RUSKIN. 29 LETTER XIV. Denmark Hill, London, S.E.* [Wednesday, April l$ih, 1858.] I am about to enter on some work which cannot be well done unless without interruption, and it would be desirable for me, were it in my power, to leave home for some time, and carry out my undertaking in seclusion. But as my materials are partly in London, I cannot do this ; so that my only alternative is to ask you to think of me as if actually absent from England, and not to be displeased though I must decline all correspondence. And I pray you to trust my assurance that, ' This was a printed circular-letter which Mr. Ruskin at this time sent to his correspondents generally. The foot-note only is in MS. VOL. I. I 3o LETTERS OF whatever reasons I may have for so uncouth behaviour, none of them are inconsistent with the respect and regard in which I remain Faithfully yours, J. R[uskin], IVm. Ward, Esq. Tomorrow, at National Gallery, please, early. JOHN RUSK IN. 31 LETTER XV. Kheinfeldkn, May 2yd, 1858. Dear Ward, I have your sketches, which are quite what I want. If a Mrs. Elizabeth Beeby writes to you from Croydon, will you be so good as to give her what help you can, without making any charge. She wants to teach drawing in our way, and seems to me a deserving person. Please make for me another outline of that Geneva* at Marlborough House, * 'A pencil drawing by Turner in the National Gallery. " My copy of Turner's Geneva" writes Mr. Ward, " was etched by George Allen. Mr. Ruskiii made a drawing of Geneva from Turner's point of view, and this was also etched by Allen. I believe they were intended to be contrasted in Modern Painters. I have these two etchings." 32 1.1: 'ITERS OF and send it me by post as soon as you can. Make it on thin paper, dip it in boiling milk,! and send it folded in a letter. I'll put it to rights here. If you send it tomorrow week, direct : Poste Restante, Schwytz, Switzerland. Always truly yours, J. Ruskin. t To fix the pencil lines. JOHX RUSK IX. 33 LETTER XVI. Baumgarten, May zSf/i, 1858. My Dear Ward, Please put stamps on, and forward, enclosed letters : and I think if you put up the other leaf of this in an envelope, address it to Mr. Wornum,* and deliver it yourself, he will allow you to make a copy for me of parts of two of the Naples outlines, — one with a temple on right, with goats, and Indian fig trees,— and another with a stone pine under the town — so.+ Make me first the bit of the upper one, with trees and rocks in middle distance, and send it * Ralph Nil holson Wornum, keeper of the National Gallery. t Mr. Ruskin has here drawn rough pen-sketches of two pencil drawings by Turner 111 the National Gallery. VOL. I. K 34 LETTERS OE me as soon as ever you can to Poste Restante, Lucerne. If you have any- thing to ask me in answer to this, a letter would find me at Bellinzona, Canton Tessin, Switzerland. [J. Ruskin]. JOHN RUSK IN. 35 LETTER XVII. Bellinzona, Switzerland, June 2\st, 1858. My Dear Ward, I have your letter with the sketch of Geneva, which is very nice, and useful to me. I do not know, however, if you got a letter requesting you to do some Naples subjects for me — or whether Mr. Wornum gave you leave to copy them.* He speaks in a letter I have to day of looking over the Naples subjects for you, so I hope it is all right. But please send me a line addressed Poste Restante, Bellinzona, and tell me all about what is going on. * Naples subjects — pencil drawings by Turner in the National Gallery. 36 LETTERS OF And please bear apologies from me, respectfully, to Miss Helps* for my carelessness in not leaving out the Libers, as I said I would. I was so driven the last day that I left (as you know) very important documents of my own behind me, and on the morning of starting I locked up everything in a heap where no one can get at them. Those I left with you are for your pupils generally, and I wish you to have them in service as much as you can ; so that you must ask Miss Helps to be kind enough to choose one, and finish working from that, and then exchange it for another ; as I left you quite few enough for your work. And so with all your pupils ; you had better lend one only at a time, — it gains better attention for it. I shall be able to answer anything you want to ask me by return of post, if you send your letter to Bellinzona * Miss Helps— daughter of Sir Arthur Helps. JOHN RUSK IN. 37 within a couple of days after receiving this. Send me word especially how we stand in money matters Yours always faithfully, J. RUSKIN. I'-S. — I have just got a letter from Mr. Wornum involving some more business. Please go to Mr. Rudland,* at Marlborough House. I don't know if he has got rid of the packets of my old Catalogue^ by sending them any- where, but I suppose not. Please take them away with you, and put them into any cellar or lumber-room. I want you to be able to get at them, because the prefatory remarks may be generally useful to your pupils; and to other Mr. Rudland— a curator of the Turner collection exhibited at Marlborough House in 1857. t Catalogue of Turner Sketches and Dravuiu^s exhibited at Marlborough House in 1857-8. See The Bibliography ofRuskin, i8r prai ti e. VOL. I. R 62 LETTERS OF outline bits firmly with the pen : it will practise you in complex lines. You may use black shade in interstices. Shells, drawn with pen, are good practice also. Ever affectionately yours, J. Ruskin. JOHN RUSK IN. 63 LETTER XXXI. MORNEX, Switzerland, February l$tfl, 186 J. My Dear Ward, Try 4 Chandos St. Perhaps there's a Chandos St., Strand. I am made anxious by your letter for fear some- thing has gone wrong with my next paper for Eraser. Don't cover your paper so with lines — use fewer — and think about them. cAxAJ^ ^fl^A<^) Mr. William Ward. 64 LETTERS OE LETTER XXXII. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. June 2,0th, 1863. My Dear Ward, I want to have a long talk with you this week, either Thursday or Friday, about your future work. Keep those days open. Truly yours, J. R[uskin]. I want to set you to something that will bring out your power of colour and fidelity usefully. Write if this comes safe. JOHN RUSK IN. 65 LETTER XXXIII. Chamounix, September 2$th, 1863. My Dear Ward, Thanks for your letter and account. I will send you your money now more regularly (I hope quite regularly, but have never succeeded in ac- complishing entire precision yet in anything). I am glad you have a pupil or two and remain in town. I shall be back myself at the end of November, I hope, and will then decide about the Turners, — but it depends on a decision of the Trustees vol. 1. s 66 LETTERS OF of the National Gallery about what is to be done with them. Believe me always Most truly yours, J. Ruskin. I think whatever you will have to do for me will be quite compatible with your living out of town. Mr. William Ward, 51, Elmore Street, Islington, N. JOHN RUSK IN. 67 LETTER XXXIV. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. April i6t/i, 1866. My Dear Ward, I'mrjust leaving town for a week or two, being tired and ill. I can't think what has become of your rabbit ; * and I've given up all lending and teaching now; — life's getting short with me, and I must look after my own work. Miss Dundas is quite able now to get on by what she will see in exhi- bitions ; she is too far advanced to need other help. Ever truly yours, J. Ruskin. Mr. Wm. Ward, 19, Trafalgar Sq. Twickenham. S. W. * Rabbit — a water colour drawing by W. Ward. 63 LETTERS OF LETTER XXXV. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. August S//i, 1866. My Dear Ward, I have been abroad, and my friends have been dying by twos and threes at a time, and I've been nearly dead myself too. I'm very sorry your letter was neglected. Here are ten pounds, and I'll see you soon. Truly yours, J. Ruskin. Send the cash account to me after getting what else you want. JOHN RUSKIN. 69 LETTER XXXVI. Waterhead, Windermere, August %th, 1867. My Dear Ward. The two drawings are safe here, and I am much pleased with them, on the whole ; though it seems to me the Marseilles is not nearly so bright in the vermillion as Turner's. I knew the finer conditions of the drawing of forms to be impossible of imitation, but I thought you would get these quite vivid colours matched. The sea is, however, remarkably well done — and I expected that to fail ; and the form drawing is more ap- preciated and more rightly done, as vol. 1. T 70 LETTERS OE far as it is achieved, than in any hitherto produced work of yours. So on with good courage, and don't relax in effort to make every drawing better than the last ! The more I look at this, the better I like it. It is seen to great disadvantage without its mount ; and as I had a fifteen mile walk yesterday, including a climb of 3000 feet (Helvellyn), and one up Skiddaw the day before, and had it unexpectedly and severely hot for the last five miles yesterday, I'm not quite fresh this morning ; and one never sees colour quite so bright when one is not quite fresh. But I am nearly certain the sail is not so vivid as Turner's. The other drawing is wonderfully good, and both are great possessions to me. Send me word of your health. I should like to get a little total rest and change, before the winter comes on. Truly yours, J. RUSKIN. JOHN RUSK IN. 71 [Address still : — Post Office, Amble- side, Westmoreland.] I am still better and better pleased with the Marseilles, as I examine the fine touches with a lens. The ship on the right is excellent in switch of yard, and general form. I think there is no doubt but you may soon command sale for these copies, with my certificate ; still I never yet could judge of the public mind. The minglings of blue and purple are lovely. Mr. Wm. Ward. 72 LETTERS OF LETTER XXXVII. Ambleside, Westmoreland, August nth, 1867. My Dear Ward, I think all you say is so very nice (and it makes me hope more and more) about the colour and the "go." I will give you the means for a little holiday if you like to have one. I'll write to-morrow. I'm tired to- day, and have several things to say — which I shall say better by waiting a day. Ever truly yours, J. Ruskin. JOHN RUSK IX. 73 LETTER XXXVI II. [Ambleside, Westmoreland.] August i2th, 1867. My Dear Ward, Write " Derwentwater Inn, Keswick,"' telling me if you think a rest in the country would do you good. I think you should not draw, but walk, and rest, and eat, just as you feel inclined ; only, when you are kept indoors by wet, practising such outline drawing as will not make you nervous or anxious, but will confirm your hand. It ought to be as unagitating as the practice of writing. Yet, if you feel that you would be better for some work from nature, I vol. 1. u 74 LETTERS OF could suggest some which would shew you what Turner meant I think a tour up or down the Meuse would be highly useful \.o yoa, and tome. Suppose you go and look at Luxemburg ! The fortress you are now drawing ? And then walk up the bank of the Meuse, and draw Dinant for me ; the one you did the yellow sunset of ? I think you ought to fix your mind on this Turner work quite as the thing you have to do. You know me well enough to trust me that I do not say this to keep you captive for my own purposes. If I thought you could be a successful artist, I would not let you copy. But I think your art gifts are very like mine ; perfect sense of colour, great fineness of general perception, and hardly any invention. You might succeed in catching the public with some mean fineness of imitation, and live a useless, though pecuniarily, successful life ; but even that would be JOHN RUSK IN. 75 a little likely. Whereas in renderin Turner, you will live a useful life ; and, I think very probably, a highly pros- perous one.* Always faithfully yours, J. Ruskin. Mr. William Ward, * Mr. Luskin had this Turner copying very much at heart, tfoping by the means of facsimile copies to spread the knowledge of the works of this great Master. "The work," writes Mr Ward, "was both close and trying, and the copies produced were minutely examined by Mr. Ruskin with lens and compasses. But I learned more of the marvellous subtleties of Turner, and of nature, than would have been possible by any other 76 LETTERS OF LETTER XXXIX. Keswick, August i$lh, 1867. Evening. My Dear Ward, I am very glad that you feel disposed to work a little during your holiday, it will be best so every way. The reason copying has been (justly) despised is that people have never done it but for money only, and have never therefore given their hearts to it. I have known one or two ex- ceptions (and those have been generally ladies) happy and useful in their work, — see note at end. To copy Turner, and any one else JOHN RUSK1N. 77 rightly, you must always know what he means ; and this requires constant looking at nature from his point of view. There is no degradation in doing this any more than in letting him, if he were alive, teach you. For instance, your own point of view, or De Wint's, or Constable's of a tree might relate only to the green of its leaves, their quantity. Turner might disregard the colour, and imagine half the leaves gone from the branches in autumn in order to express the grace and anatomy of the limbs. All these views are natural, — but in looking at nature with a view to illustrate the work of any given Master, you must look at her not " with his eyes " (which you cannot, and should not) but from h\s, place, and to his purpose. It will do you great good to see more clearly what Turner means by those odd touches and scratches in his outlines of French towns and fortresses, and to see vol. i. x 78 LETTERS OF the character of the scenes he tried to render. You and Allen are on good enough terms, are you not? I should like to send you together ; for I want him to engrave your drawings, and I should like you both to make memoranda on the spot of the important features in scenes of Turner's views.* For instance, in that Dinant with yellow sun.t I should like you to out- line the two churches and bridge, and any of the more interesting houses in the towns, from the Turner point, — as near as you could guess it. Luxemburg I believe you can do nothing at, the sentinels would stop you instantly. Turner could draw with his hands in his coat-tails, or while the sentinel walked the other way ; but * This suggestion resulted in a knapsack tour taken by Mr. George Allen and Mr. Ward up the valley of the Meuse, from Liege to Givet. Mr. Ward refers to it as being "a most delightful month of walking and sketching." t Here Mr. Ruskin has drawn a rough " thumb- nail " sketch of Turner's Dinant. JOHN RUSKIN. 79 you cannot, and need not go out of your way to see it ; but if it comes easily into plan of tour, take it. I hope to be at home by the 24th, and I should like to see Allen and you, and that you should start in the following week. I've no letter from Allen yet in answer to one I wrote on the subject. As soon as I receive it, I will think over the best plan of tour, and write to you again. Ever faithfully yours, J. Ruskin. If I had to make my own bread, I should at once endeavour to get employment in copying the great Italian frescos — while at least half my time would then be spent in anatomical and other studies from nature ; and I should feel myself quite usefully and rightly employed putting my whole energy into the business. I should do so, even now, with far more satisfaction to myself than my present desultory 8o LETTERS OF work, of teaching in various ways, gives me ; but I do not feel justified in abandoning intellectual labour alto- gether, or giving up the rudder which is in my hand. JOHN RUSKIN. 8 1 LETTER XL. [Denmark Hill, London, S.E.] September St/i, 1867. Sunday. My Dear Ward, I got both your letters yesterday ; they gave me much pleasure. I was sure you would enjoy the Meuse, and the Flemish architecture; and, for my own part, I can assure you that though for general enjoyment in natural beauty, and for exercise, I go to Switzerland ; for purposes of art, I should rarely go beyond the French and Flemish land- scape and buildings. A river is, in most of its circumstances, far more picturesque than any lake. You get vol. 1. v 82 LETTERS OF two shores dovetailed together, instead of a single independent one with an horizon line ; and the motion of the water, and traffic, furnish endless incident. You will be much struck with Huy. But it has been often drawn, and need not long detain you. Give me a good account of the river above Dinant, if it is interesting; it is little known. I am very glad you get on so nicely together. I will give what strength I have this winter to giving you both fair start in this Turner work. Details of windows, roofs, boats, and the like, will not bother you like whole landscape ; and will explain much of Turner's obscure work. Write to me often, but it need not be more than a word or two, telling me how you get on. Of course, when a wet day comes, I should like to have more. Allen's letter also highly pleasing. JOHN RUSKIN. 83 With regards to you both, Faithfully yours, J. Ruskin. Mr. William Ward, Poste Restante, Dinant {Meuse) Belgium. 84 LETTERS OF LETTER XI-.I. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. September \%th, 1867. Dear Ward, I sent you a line yesterday to post office, Dinant ; and to-day I had yours from Dinant, which gives me great pleasure, (you could not have had answer on 9/// to yours of 6t/i). I've sent the cheque to your wife, and, if you find the work is doing you both good, you need not watch the decline of your funds anxiously, as I am quite ready to prolong your stay somewhat, if you feel it would be right that I should. JOHN RUSK IN. 85 You cannot enjoy Turner's "fairy" work too much. That is divine to the very day of his death. But haste — weariness — Death, in its widest sense, as it begins to seize on what is called old age — all the effects of solitude, of absence of all human sympathy and understanding ; and finaHy sensuality proceeding clearly from physical disease of the brain, are manifest to me in those later works in a degree which is proportionate to my increasing reverence and worship of the divine fact of them. Allen is not to be jealous of my writing to you instead of him ; — if he has any geological or other questions to answer he shall have his turn. I have no idea what that Dinant Rock is. Chalk, I imagined, but am not sure. You have two important views to analyze then ; one mine in which I imagine the houses and the cliff are vol. 1. z 86 LETTERS OF fine in detail, and the other the amber sunset.* Truly yours, J. Ruskin. * Here Mr. Ruskin has drawn two rough pen- sketches of Turner's D burnt on the Meuse. JOHN R US KIN. 87 LETTER XLII. [Denmark Hill, London, S.E. October lot/i, 1867.] 3 My Dear Ward, I'm afraid you've been plaguing the post office in vain ; but I wanted to say a good deal, and now can say nothing, except to send me word directly what state the houses are in, under the cathedral, in the street between south transept and west front — if any are left. Ever faithfully yours, J. R[uskin]. Ask to-morrow. — I'll try and send another line. Mr. W. Ward, Poste Restante, Rouen. (Fratu SS LETTERS OF LETTER XLIII. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. October I2t/t, 1867. My Dear Ward, This is only to keep you in counten- ance with the Poste Pestante. Send me anything you have done, as soon as you can, and I'll see how you are getting on. There are still marvel- lous bits here and there in the old streets. Ever affectionately yours, J. Ruskin. Mr. W. Ward, Hotel d 'Angleterre. Rouen. {France.) JOHN RUSKJN. 89 LETTER XLIV. <5 Denmark Hill London, S.E. October 26th, 1867. My Dear Ward, I have just received the drawings, and am so much pleased with them, that I leave it now wholly to yourself to choose what you will do. If you think Luxembourg can still be drawn in this weather, you may go there ; or any- where else where you feel inclined to go — not too far from home. I will pay your expenses, and furnish your wife with what she may further need while you are away, if you will go on making drawings like these of any architecture likely to perish. Rut if you get vol. 1. a A go LETTERS OF nervous, or tired, come home, and go on with the Turners. In any case, not staying out beyond the end of November. I enclose ^20 cheque, which I have no doubt the English bankers will cash if you show them this note ; if they won't, keep it, and I'll send notes. Ever faithfully yours, John Ruskin. Mr. VV. Ward, Hotel de France. Rouen JOHN RUSK IN. 91 LETTER XLV. Denmark Hill, London, S.E. October 315/, 1867. My Dear Ward, I have only time to-day to say that the house in the square, with its beautifully well-judged omission of detail in shadow ; and the tall street-view, with the balcony on left, splendidly swept in, in white ; delighted me most. But all are good. Try for a little more definiteness in outline : they are a little too vague. Don't be afraid of a falsely-strong line or two to express form, as long as they are lines only. The eye always forgives a well meant outline, but not a false 92 LETTERS OF colour, or a careless form. Keep such outlines in colour harmonious with their place. You may write me whatever you like to talk about, provided you write large and clear. You may trust to the truth of my sympathy ; but you must re- member that I am engaged in the in- vestigation of enormous religious and moral questions, in the history of nations ; and that your feelings, or my own, or anybody else's, at any par- ticular moment, are of very little interest to me, — not from want of sympathy, but from the small propor- tion the individuality bears to the whole subject of my enquiry. I have no affections, having had them, three times over, torn out of me by the roots, — most fatally the last time, within the last year. I hope to be kind and just to all persons, and of course I like and dislike ; but my word "affectionately" means only — that I JOHN RUSKIN. 93 should have loved people, if I were not dead. As a matter of practical fact, you may always trust to my kindness in a due proportion, as you stand among other people who require it; and to my understanding sympathy in pro- portion also. But I have no pleasure myself, now, in any human relation. Knowing this, you will be able to understand a good deal in my ways of going on, otherwise inexplicable. Faithfully yours, J. RUSKIN. VOL. 1. E B Privately Printed: 1893. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. ORION ... U>/URL LDURL Hrrx JUL 1 2 1989 Form L9-40m-7,'56(C790s4)444 5263 Letters from A4W7 Jolm_Ruskin_to v.l William Ward PR 5263 A4W7 v.l 3 1 58 01327 7255 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY AA 000 378 029 3