John Ruskin

Date of Birth:

08-Feb-1819

Nationality:

United Kingdom

Profession:

John Ruskin was an English painter and critic of the leading art of the Victorian era. A man of many computers, and a prominent social thinker he also wrote on various topics including geology, architecture, myth, ornithology, literature, education, and political economy. A lover of nature, his works of art were occupied by plants, birds, built environments and he emphasized the connection between nature, art and society in his writings. The only son of a successful trader, he developed an early interest in the arts, heavily influenced by his father's collection of watercolor paintings. As a young man he was influenced by works by artists such as J.M.W. Turner, John Constable, and John Sell Cotman, and writings by preachers such as Charles Simeon, John Keble, Thomas Arnold, and John Henry Newman. He has also traveled extensively which encouraged his works of art. He received widespread recognition for what became the first volume of 'Daily Painters', a book of art criticism. The popularity of the book prompted him to add more ideas in the following years. In addition to art he had knowledge about many other subjects as well. He also published a series of social media articles on 'Cornhill Magazine' which he later compiled as 'Something This Last' and wrote a series of articles on economic topics, published in 'Fraser's Magazine'.

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John Ruskin

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QUOTES BY John Ruskin

"Mountains are to the rest of the body of the earth, what violent muscular action is to the body of man. The muscles and tendons of its anatomy are, in the mountain, brought out with force and convulsive energy, full of expression, passion, and strength."

"When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece."

"Give a little to love a child, and you get a great deal back"

"It takes a great deal of living to get a little deal of learning."

"Let every dawn of the morning be to you as the beginning of life. And let every setting of the sun be to you as its close. Then let everyone of these short lives leave its sure record of some kindly thing done for others; some good strength of knowledge gained for yourself."

"Fit yourself for the best society, and then, never enter it."

"The common practice of keeping up appearances with society is a mere selfish struggle of the vain with the vain."

"Nothing is ever done beautifully which is done in rivalship: or nobly, which is done in pride"

"Once thoroughly our own knowledge ceases to give us pleasure."

"No good work whatever can be perfect, and the demand for perfection is always a sign of a misunderstanding of the ends of art."