John Ruskin was een centrale figuur in de kunstkritiek en sociale hervormingen, wiens vroege werken de kunst van J. M. W. Turner verdedigden. Zijn uitgebreide geschriften onderzochten de kruispunten van kunst, natuur en ethiek, en doken vaak in de morele en spirituele implicaties van de industriële samenleving. Ruskin's onderscheidende stijl vloeide van gedetailleerde artistieke analyses naar breder sociaal en economisch commentaar. Zijn proza vormde het esthetisch begrip en inspireerde bewegingen voor milieubehoud en sociale rechtvaardigheid.
John Ruskin was a multifaceted figure of the Victorian era, excelling as an art critic, philosopher, and philanthropist. His diverse writings spanned various disciplines, including geology, architecture, and literature, reflecting his broad intellectual interests. Ruskin's literary forms ranged from essays and poetry to travel guides and fairy tales, showcasing his versatility. Over time, his elaborate prose evolved into a clearer style aimed at effectively conveying his insights. Central to his work was the exploration of the intricate relationships between nature, art, and society.
John Ruskin was a multifaceted figure in the Victorian era, known for his influential role as an art critic, patron, and social thinker. His diverse writings spanned topics from geology to political economy, encompassing essays, poetry, and travel guides. Ruskin's artistic talents included detailed sketches and watercolors, showcasing his keen observations of nature and architecture. Over time, his writing evolved from elaborate prose to clearer language, always highlighting the interconnections between nature, art, and society.
Focusing on the intersection of economics, morality, and social justice, John Ruskin's essays critique capitalism and its impact on society and the environment. He argues for a moral foundation in economic practices, advocating for living wages for workers and highlighting the detrimental effects of industrialization on nature. Initially controversial, these essays have influenced modern social movements, including Mahatma Gandhi's ideologies. Ruskin's insights remain relevant, offering a profound exploration of the ethical dimensions of economic systems.
"The Arundel Society first published 'Giotto and His Works in Padua' between 1853 and 1860. It stands as Ruskin's most compelling set of reflections on Giotto's masterpiece - an artwork that, in Ruskin's estimation, changed the very course of art history. Originally accompanied by a set of black and white woodcuts of the panels in the chapel, this new edition presents each panel in vivid color photography, adding a useful visual aid to Ruskin's lyrical descriptions. The result is a book that serves not only as an introduction for students of art history, but also as a discussion of what it means to be a great artist, by one of most influential writers ever to tackle visual art."--Publisher's description
Ruskin was the most powerful and influential critic of the nineteenth century. He wrote about nature, art, architecture, politics, history, myth and much besides. This new selection draws on the whole range of his output, including representative material from all his major works. The introduction outlines the development of his life and thought and shows why he remains such a rewarding writer today.
Little gem of Victorian literature, written in 1841 and published in 1889, tells a tale of the two Black Brothers who spite the wind and the King of the Golden River — and then for their misdeeds, are turned into stone. Includes 22 captivating illustrations.
The book is a reprint of a classic work first published in 1857, offering readers a chance to explore its historical significance and original themes. It preserves the language and style of the time, providing an authentic experience of 19th-century literature. The reprint aims to engage both new readers and those familiar with the text, highlighting its enduring relevance and impact on literature and culture.
This anthology is a thorough introduction to classic literature for those who have not yet experienced these literary masterworks. For those who have known and loved these works in the past, this is an invitation to reunite with old friends in a fresh new format. From Shakespeare's finesse to Oscar Wilde's wit, this unique collection brings together works as diverse and influential as The Pilgrim's Progress and Othello. As an anthology that invites readers to immerse themselves in the masterpieces of the literary giants, it is must-have addition to any library.
”It is in Venice, and in Venice only, that effectual blows can be struck at this pestilent art of the Renaissance. Destroy its claims to admiration there, and it can assert them nowhere else.” This was Ruskin's war cry as he entered the now almost forgotten Battle of the Styles on the side against ”the school which has conducted men's inventive and constructional faculties from the Grand Canal to Gower Street.”But first the reader must know the difference between right and wrong; he must find out for himself the best way of doing everything. ”I shall give him stones, and bricks and straw, chisels and trowels and the ground, and then ask him to build, only helping him if I find him puzzled.”Unhappily, both these exciting objectives were attained only after the expenditure of nearly half-a-million words; glorious words, but too many. For fifty years, The Stones of Venice was read by all who went there and thousands who could not; the sightseers whom the city captivates today seldom have its greatest guidebook with them.It is the aim of this new edition to put a fascinating book within reach of travelers—active or armchair—with limited resources of time. Much that was superfluous has been omitted; what remains is the essence of a now very readable and portable book. It is a book for the lover of architecture, the lover of Venice, the lover of lost causes, and, perhaps above all, for the lover of fine writing.
Written in the 1880s, this autobiography of one of Britain's most famous art critics of the 19th century describes his upbringing in a respectable Victorian household, his Continental travels, his friends and relations and the development and refinement of his aesthetic tastes.
