John Ruskin (1819 - 1900) c. 1876 - 1877

Editor: This is Charles Herbert's portrait of John Ruskin. It's a watercolor, quite small, and feels very intimate. What strikes you about it? Curator: The materiality speaks volumes. Ruskin, champion of the Gothic Revival, would have been acutely aware of the artist's labor. Consider the slow, deliberate application of watercolor, a contrast to industrial speed. Does this detail suggest Herbert's reverence for Ruskin's ideas? Editor: That's interesting! So, the medium itself comments on Ruskin's philosophy? I hadn't thought of it that way. Curator: Precisely. The handcraft mirrors Ruskin's critique of industrialized society, highlighting the value he placed on skilled labor and the integrity of materials. Food for thought, isn't it?