The Elements of Drawing, in three Letters to Beginners

by John Ruskin

Overview

Excerpt: "My dear Reader,—Whether this book is to be of use to you or not, depends wholly on your reason for wishing to learn to draw. If you desire only to possess a graceful accomplishment, to be able to converse in a fluent manner about drawing, or to amuse yourself listlessly in listless hours, I cannot help you: but if you wish to learn drawing that you may be able to set down clearly, and usefully, records of such things as cannot be described in words, either to assist your own memory of them, or to convey distinct ideas of them to other people; if you wish to obtain quicker perceptions of the beauty of the natural world, and to preserve something like a true image of beautiful things that pass away, or which you must yourself leave; if, also, you wish to understand the minds of great painters, and to be able to appreciate their work sincerely, seeing it for yourself, and loving it, not merely taking up the thoughts of other people about it; then I can help you, or, which is better, show you how to help yourself."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783985311828
Publisher:	Otbebookpublishing
Publication date:	07/31/2021
Series:	Classics To Go
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	117
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

John Ruskin (1819-1900) was a towering figure in the 19th century, whose multifaceted contributions spanned art criticism, social theory, and environmentalism. Born in London to a prosperous wine merchant, Ruskin's early exposure to art and literature fostered a lifelong passion for beauty and moral integrity. Ruskin's seminal work, "Modern Painters," championed the genius of J.M.W. Turner and revolutionized art criticism by emphasizing the emotional and spiritual power of art over technical precision. His writings on architecture, particularly in "The Seven Lamps of Architecture" and "The Stones of Venice," celebrated Gothic architecture and argued for the moral and social significance of craftsmanship, influencing the Arts and Crafts Movement.A controversial figure, Ruskin's personal life was marked by a tumultuous marriage to Effie Gray, which ended in annulment and scandal. His later years saw him grappling with mental illness, yet his intellectual vigor never waned. Ruskin's social and economic ideas, articulated in works like "Unto This Last," critiqued industrial capitalism and advocated for social justice, inspiring figures such as Mahatma Gandhi and the founders of the British Labour Party.Ruskin's legacy endures in his visionary ideas about the interconnectedness of art, society, and nature. His call for a return to craftsmanship, appreciation of natural beauty, and ethical living resonates with contemporary movements advocating sustainability and social equity. A polymath and prophet, Ruskin's life and work continue to challenge and inspire modern readers.
John Ruskin (8 February 1819 – 20 January 1900) was an English writer, philosopher and art critic of the Victorian era. He wrote on subjects as varied as geology, architecture, myth, ornithology, literature, education, botany and political economy.