John Ruskin's "View of Baden in Switzerland" is one of the works by the influential artist and art critic on view in a new exhibit at the Yale Center for British Art.

British Art Center joining global celebration
of legacy of artist and critic John Ruskin

Although British artist John Ruskin died 100 years ago, his influence on European and American culture and politics continues today, and -- some believe -- will likely resonate well into the 21st century. As part of a worldwide commemoration marking the centenary of Ruskin's death, the Yale Center for British Art is hosting a special exhibit examining the life and legacy of the Victorian artist, who was also an art critic, teacher, social commentator and environmentalist. Titled "Ruskin: Past: Present: Future," the show features watercolors, drawings, prints, books and manuscripts selected from the British Art Center's extensive holdings. These include Ruskin's own art and writings, as well as works by those artists who most influenced Ruskin and those who benefitted from his support. The show will continue through Feb. 27. John Ruskin (1819-1900) developed a passion for art and natural history at an early age. He became an accomplished draftsman under the tutelage of watercolorists James Duffield Harding and Anthony Vandyke "Copley" Fielding, whose works are on view in the exhibit along with those of Samuel Prout, another formative influence. At age 13, Ruskin received a copy of Samuel Rogers' "Italy," featuring designs by J.M.W. Turner. The gift sparked in the youth an abiding enthusiasm for Turner's work and, Ruskin later said, determined "the entire direction of my life's energies." As an undergraduate at Oxford University, Ruskin developed an interest in drawing, and published his first study of architecture in Architectural Magazine in 1837-38. After graduating from Oxford and traveling in Europe, he found his vocation as an art critic. His impassioned defense of Turner's landscape art was published anonymously in the first volume of Modern Painters in 1843 to critical acclaim. Ruskin's lifelong advocacy of Turner is examined in the new exhibit, which features Turner watercolors that were once owned by Ruskin -- including "Lake Geneva and Mt. Blanc" and "Fluelen: Morning." In 1851, in response to critical attacks on the pre-Raphaelite painters, Ruskin came to their defense. He also promoted a number of their contemporaries. Among the works by these artists featured in the show is J.F. Lewis' watercolor "A Frank Encampment in the Desert of Mt. Sinai," which Ruskin described as one of "the most wonderful pictures in the world." As a teacher, Ruskin also influenced a generation of artists; among these was Paul Naftel, whose work "Head of Loch Lomond, with Ben Lomond in the Distance," will be on display at Yale for the first time since it was originally shown in London in 1859. "Ruskin: Past: Present: Future" also documents the artist's investigation of the relationship between art and political and social issues, as well as his active engagement with education and the museum, and his interest in environmental issues. To complement the exhibition, quotations by Ruskin have been placed throughout the museum's fourth-floor galleries in order to guide visitors through the collection. In conjunction with the exhibit, the British Art Center will hold a symposium on Ruskin's achievements on Saturday, Jan. 22. The event will include talks by four scholars, as well as an introduction by Patrick McCaughey, director of the British Art Center. The topics and speakers will be: "John Ruskin: The Art of Work and the Work of Art," Tim Barringer, assistant professor of the history of art at Yale; "Ruskin and the Politics of Gothic," Chris Brooks, reader in English literature at the University of Exeter, England; "The Stones of St. Mark's: Ruskin and Byzantium," Maria Georgopoulou, associate professor of the history of art at Yale; and "Ruskin, Rossetti, and Pre-Raphaelite Intimacy," Elizabeth Helsinger, professor and chair of English language and literature at the University of Chicago. Sessions will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in the museum's lecture hall. Admission is free; no preregistration is necessary. Art in Context talks on the exhibit have also been scheduled on two Tuesdays at 12:30 p.m.: Jan. 25 -- "Ruskin and the Practice of Watercolors" by Scott Wilcox, the center's curator of prints and drawings; and Feb. 22 -- "The Radical Ruskin" by Rafael Denis, adjunct professor at the Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and a fellow in the history of art at Vrije University, The Netherlands. There will also be gallery talks on the exhibit at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 27, and on Saturdays, Feb. 5 and 13. The Yale Center for British Art, located at 1080 Chapel St., is open to the public free of charge 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. For a recorded listing of weekly museum events, call (203) 432-2800; further information is available on the museum's website at www.yale.edu/ycba. T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S Paul Rand Center to honor celebrated graphic designer U.S. embargo causing health crisis in Cuba, says physician University extends Homebuyer Program Exhibit features new works by Jasper Johns Dean announces plans to retire Yale's early preparation for Y2K resulted in smooth transition Memorial service is scheduled for C. Vann Woodward Paul Sigler, a pioneer in the field of structural biology, dies Paul Rand's widow donates artist's personal papers to Yale Peabody Museum's 'Martian Perspectives' exhibit offers 3-D views of the 'Red Planet' Yale Opera to perform romantic classic 'La bohème' British Art Center joining global celebration of legacy of artist and critic John Ruskin The light of Elie Lascaux shines in JE exhibit of his works Science Park firm to distribute byproducts of Yale research Religious values integral to politics, says Ralph Reed says Art by and about Asian women featured in gallery's display Center showcases 20th-century art Performance artist Karen Finley will present her newest work at the Rep Chinese artist's paintings capture 'The Allure of Tibet' Noted journalist to talk about government as Poynter Fellow Leading architects to teach and talk at Yale this spring Library exhibit features work of noted German woodcut artist, illustrator Memorial concert features award-winning duo Yale Scoreboard Lamb to lead Bulldogs field hockey team 'to the next level' Employees invited to basketball games Kennedy to discuss 'Global Century' series Victoria Nolan is honored for her guidance in the arts Daniel Rosner honored for research on aerosols . . . In the News . . . Bulletin Home|Visiting on Campus| Calendar of Events|Bulletin Board Classified Ads|Search Archives|Production Schedule|Bulletin Staff Public Affairs Home|News Releases| E-Mail Us|Yale Home Page