
John Ruskin BIRTHDAY BOY w. 2 notes
John Ruskin (8th February 1819 - 20 January 1900).
Mr Ruskin is a very big deal for many reasons, and if you can honestly say you don’t know why, then please immediately buy the nearest copy of his ‘selected writings’. He is one of my favourite Victorians ever, and wrote and lectured extensively on everything that matters in life: art, architecture, politics and society. He was Turner’s biggest fanboy and made sure Turner got the recognition he deserved, as well as being an important and inspiring figure to the Pre-Raphaelites. When he didn’t like something mostly Whistler, boy, did you hear about it. Aside from this, he was also a brilliant artist in his own right, a poet, a socialist and a man with a love life veiled in mystery.
Happy 193rd birthday, John Ruskin!