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Books

How seriously should we take Ruskin as an artist?

A review of John Ruskin: Artist and Observer, by Christopher Newall. This catalogue says Ruskin was ‘among the greatest of English painters and draftsman’; some of the comparisons it contains suggest otherwise

3 May 2014

9:00 AM

3 May 2014

9:00 AM

John Ruskin: Artist and Observer Christopher Newall

National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa/ Paul Holberton Publishing, pp.376, £37.50, ISBN: 9781907372575

This stout and well-designed volume nicely complements Tim Hilton’s classic biography of John Ruskin. It is the catalogue for the exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa (till 11 May) and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery (4 July–28 September).

A Scottish venue is especially appropriate. Ruskin (1819–1900) was a Londoner but proudly Scots by descent.

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