The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-12-03

John Rnekin, the world renowned
critic ami author, Ia the son Of London
merchant aud wag horn In the worlds
metropolis In February, 1919, He re-
ceiyed hls education at Christ Church,
Oxford, gaining the Newdigate prize for
poetry In 1880, His IN one OF the rare
instances OF prize men at college coming
to the front In after life, After his
graduation he devoted his time 10 the
study OF art and practlced with success,
having for tutors such men az COpley,
Fielding and j ID. Harding,
A pamphlet In defense OF Turner and
his school OF landscape painting was
Ruakln's first effort In the cause OF
modern art, and thia afterwards by en-
laTgement, became the work entitled
"MOdern Painters" which appeared In
lSi3, SO successful was this ilrst volume
from his pen that several editions we're
published and sold, The warm reception
accorded the book greatly Influenced Mr.,
Rnskin'a after career, Hs was, however,
not without opponents, whl criticised
his free ideas In art. In 1916, after hay
Ing spent several years IN Italy, no pub
lished hla second volume OF "M0dern
Painters" and In this work took much
wider range, incu Ing the modern
Italian artists. The lltat two volumes
were supplemented by three others, the
last OF which was Issued In 1860, aud was
illustrated by Mr., Rnskln himself In
lSi0 he published the work entitled
"fhe Seven Lamps Cf ArGli e3tufe,"
having for the time branched of from
criticisms Of painting. In 1851 the first
volume OF "The Stones Of Venice ap'
peared, and In 1853 this was followed by
the second and third volumes. "The
Stones Of Venice" like the "MOdern
Paintera,' was illustrated by Mr.. Ruskin
himself, and the drawings awakened
keen appreciation Of his artlatic powers.
He Ia an extensive contributor TO the
various magazines, newspapers and re-
views, and as early ~ iSl7 contributed
articles 10 the Quarterly Magazine, In
1851 no advocated pre- Rnphaelism, In
hia letters 10 the Times, aud In 1853
leCtured IN Edlnburg on "GOthic Archi'
lecture" In addition TO the above men
toned works, Mr.. Ruskin has written
many less pretenti0us articles too
numerous, In fact, 10 DO mentioned In
detail. He was appointed R'de Lecturer
ut Cambridge In April, 1867, and the
Senate conferred the degree OF L,L,D.
upon him. In 1871 no proposed 10 devote
G5 0OO for the purpose Of an endowment
TO pay q master Of drawing In the Taylor
Galleries, oxford, and this offer was,
with notifications, accepted by the col
lcge authorities In 1872,
Mr, Ruskin lives near the village Of
C0nist0y; the place was called Brant'
wood and IL made famous by its occu.
pant and the wonderful art treasures II
contains. Ruskins fascination for
Turner's drawings and paintings is we'll
known, aud he has one Of the most COM
plete collections Of that masters water
color drawings; not only paintings, but
other works OF art and Interest are
gathered there. Ono OF his most cher.
iahed relics IL the MSS, OF Scott'a novel
wood took" which was written when
the ruin OF that great writer was an-
nounced, MIR, Ruskin has also many
engrOssed manuscripts OF the ninth,
twelfth and thirteenth centuries In re-
gard TO modern art,
Mr., Ruskin takes pesalmlstlc view.
He ~ quoted ~ saying: II may briefly
say that believe that all the genius OF
modern artists IL directed to tastes that
are vicious states Of wealthy cities, and
that on the whole they are In the service
OF the luxurious clasa who must TO
amused or worse than amused, | think
there IL twenty times more effort than
there used to be for greater skill, but far
less pleasure In the Increase OF II In tho
artists themselves"