RUSKIN’S THOUGHTS “ARE TOO DISCONTENTED”
RUSKIN
(John, 1819-1900, Writer and Critic)
Autograph Letter Signed ‘J. Ruskin’ to an unnamed correspondent
saying that “on this or on any other evening during your stay I shall be very happy to see you - though I fear my thoughts are too discontented to be a fair exchange for your more hopeful ones...” with a postscript thanking him “for the book. I shall endeavour to get at its spirit before I see you...”, 1 side 8vo., no place, 10th September
Item Date:
1871
Stock No:
42076
£1275
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UNPUBLISHED COLLECTION OF AUTOGRAPH LETTERS TO ADA HARTNELL
RUSKIN
(John, 1819-1900, Writer and Critic)
Remarkable collection of 17 newly discovered letters Autograph Letters Signed from Ruskin and 1 from Joanna Severn to Ada Hartnell of the Guild of St George
casting light on Ruskin's tormented later years and his relationship with an intriguing female acquaintance, whom he clearly held in high esteem, but about whom little remains known. Ada Hartnell was one of the 32 original members of the Guild of St George, the utopian social organisation Ruskin established in 1878 on the model of the guilds of medieval Venice. She is mentioned by Ruskin in Fors Clavigera as one of a select group of guild companions 'in whose future adherence and support I have entire trust'. During the time these letters were written she lived first at 79 Falmouth Road, London, and later at 6 Brighton Villas, Northumberland Park, Tottenham. Ruskin's mental stability suffered badly during his seventeen-year relationship with Rose La Touche, who died in 1875. In February 1878 he experienced a total collapse, followed by several further attacks between 1881 and 1889, after which he 'gradually retreated into silence, saying little, and writing few letters', living in seclusion at Brantwood under the care of his relation Joanna Severn. The earlier letters in the collection suggest that Ruskin frequently visited Hartnell in London. His letters proposing to meet can strike an importunate note, and the type of assignation proposed is in one instance unexpected:
“Would you like to come to the Pantomime at Drury lane to-morrrow with me. You would have to meet me at my good old servant’s teashop, 29 Paddington St, Portland place - and I would take the greatest care of you and drive you home. Send me a line here...”. In letters evidently written in the aftermath of his crisis, Ruskin confides in Hartnell about the debilitating effects of his mental state, while demonstrating an urgent concern for Hartnell's own health and living arrangements, an intense dynamic encapsulated in one letter from Brantwood: “I have had several very bad sleepless nights myself, lately - but the mental gloom causes them - it is not the consequence of them. That darkness over the whole world becomes more and more definite to me as one of judgement, and every voice aboard is of the Night. I can only keep my strength by refusing to think – and going on with work that I still have pleasure in - and pleasing anybody I can innocently please. But I've been freed to write something serious just now - in which your letter helps me so much - you will have it in a week now. I am so very thankful your health is on the whole, better. But – would it not be better to run the risk of the first change and go into purer air and where you could get light? Shall I see if I can get better lodging for you near my museum at Sheffield - there's no smoke unless with strong southeast wind, and lovely country close by, being certainly as cheap as near London. Please think about this and write again...”. The later letters also contain much discussion of guild matters, with Ruskin musing on his own suitability to lead “until they find somebody better”, discussing the publication of Fors, indulging in a schoolmasterly harangue in which he dismisses Praeterita as “mere gossip”, and welcoming positive reports of a recent number of Proserpina. Joanna Severn finds frequent mention as someone evidently known to Hartnell and with an interest in her well-being. See attached transcript for further details.
Item Date:
1885
Stock No:
41815
£27500
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RUSKIN
(John, 1819-1900, Writer and Critic)
Autograph Letter Signed ‘J. Ruskin’ to S. C. HALL
(Samuel Carter, 1800-1889, Author and Editor) explaining that he is “so very unwell just now that I cannot venture to make any arrangements or promises - when the weather gets a little better & the mornings light - perhaps I shall find some heart again - but I dare not say I can or will do anything that involves thinking just now. Pray believe my sincere desire to do what will be agreeable to you and with dear love from Joan and me to Mrs Hall...”, 1 side 8vo, Denmark Hill headed paper, 9th January no year
Item Date:
0
Stock No:
43229
£975
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RUSKIN RECOMMENDS A SCULPTOR FOR A SHAKESPEARE MEMORIAL IN MELBORNE
RUSKIN
(John, 1819-1900, Writer and Critic)
Fine Autograph Letter Signed to Colonel Robertson
saying that he is “glad to hear of your safe arrival in England; and as sincerely wish that I could be of any use to you, but I have long given up all discussions upon matters of art – there is only one way to get a good thing done; go to Munro, Woolner, Marochetti, or any other good sculptor you like, and let him do the thing entirely in his own way. All bye[sic] opinions are useless: mine, just now especially so, for my head is full of quite different matters, (so far as it is full of anything). I have been put into a state of enduring and intense disgust by the way the Prussians and English have been behaving these three years back; (Prussia backing Austria and England standing behind her counter, whistling, with her hands in her pockets) - which has left me neither head, nor heart for any of my old work; in fact I was made thoroughly ill by the peace of Villafranca and am now only coming a little round again - but what I am doing - or should do, will be very different from any of my old business. I hear very good speaking of Mr H. S. Leifchild, 111 Stanhope Sq. Mornington Crest. I suspect he would be able both to advise and do, in this business of yours....”, 3 sides 8vo., no place, no date, circa
Item Date:
1860
Stock No:
43423
£1750
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RUSKIN GIVES DETAILED ADVICE ON EDUCATION FOR BOYS
RUSKIN
(John, 1819-1900, Writer and Critic)
Fine Autograph Letter Signed to Colonel Robertson
saying he had “made a stupid mistake in writing to you, thinking of another friend, who first named Mr Liefchild to me and who is interested in his obtaining the commission for the Shakespeare memorial at Melbourne. Indeed those are difficult questions which you are putting to yourself about your little son’s education - Have you Mrs Sherwood’s ‘Henry Milner’. It is a book which if children will at all take to it, is I think wholly good for them. It seems to me impossible to decide on general systems, or successions of teaching; the disposition of the child must decide everything as you see things affect him & turn out for him. This only I should think your parental care might ensure:- that he should be prevented from thinking much about himself or from contending with others; but should get into the early habit of learning however little, that little with absolute accuracy, and putting to some helpful use, as soon as he could - what he learned. If I had a son, I would make him use his arithmetic as soon as he has learned it – in keeping accounts for somebody; his chemistry in ascertaining the nature of substances – the commonest first. He should know good sugar from bad as well as a grocer; and be able to pronounce on flour and butter like baker or cook. His natural history should be learned in the fields, the poultry yard, the furshop and so on: and the one aim before him should be to make himself true and useful; not to be thought clever, nor take prizes, nor get on in the world. I think no system will do him much harm, if your influence is always clear & simple. No system on the other hand, will be of much use, if it alone be trusted to. I hardly ever write letters no; nor have I experience enough to make it in this case a matter of regret that I have got into this negative habit. I send this chiefly to with you a Happy New Year...”, 4re sides 8vo., no place, no date, circa
Item Date:
1860
Stock No:
43424
£1500
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