John Ruskin letter to John Henry Le Keux, between 1855 and 1856?
- Call Number:
- MSS 37
- Holdings:
- [Request]
- Title(s):
- John Ruskin letter to John Henry Le Keux
- Date:
- between 1855 and 1856?
- Classification:
- Archives and Manuscripts
- Part of Collection:
- volume 1, page 43-47
- Provenance:
- Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
- Conditions Governing Access:
- The collection is open without restriction.
- Conditions Governing Use:
- Copyright UndeterminedThe collection is the physical property of the Yale Center for British Art. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the Archives Department.
- Scope and Content:
- Ruskin writes that he has “at last’ sent the plate [referring to the sketches for Plate 25, Things in General, in Modern Painters IV; see previous letter on p. 41-42.] Ruskin describes the numbered “bits of paper” that make up the various figures in the plate and indicates that he has included a sketch of the whole plate with the various figures “in position.” Ruskin writes that the pen and ink drawing for figure 1 [The Towers of Fribourg as Durer would have drawn them] should be “copied carefully.” Ruskin draws small sketches of leaves to indicate “the freedom of the spray.” Ruskin writes that the daguerreotype for figure 2 [the Towers of Fribourg from a daguerreotype, figure 2 in Plate 25, Modern Painters IV; see also letter on p. 41-42] has been “also sent.” Ruskin describes his goals for the plate, to “show Nature as far as I can, as she appears under Rembrandtesque light and shade (which you know the dag. a photograph always gives).” Ruskin describes figure 1. As “interpreting and explaining […] Dureresque art,” and figure 3 “the vulgarizing form of modern Blottesque or watercolour art.” Ruskin implores that Le Keux should copy “the photograph exactly,” and “[imitate] the blots [for fig. 3] as well as [he] can.” Ruskin includes drawings to indicate how Le Keux should correct Ruskin's perspective in fig. 1. Ruskin includes instructions for the gradation of the columns in figs. 5-7. [See drawing on page 49]
- Physical Description:
- 5 pages : autograph letter, signed ; 18 x 11 cm
- Genre:
- Correspondence , Photographs, Albumen prints, and Drawings (visual works)
- Subject Terms:
- EngraversEngravingIllustration of booksRuskin, John, 1819-1900. Modern paintersRuskin, John, 1819-1900. Oxford Museum
- Associated Places:
- Great Britain
- Associated People/Groups:
- Acland, Henry W. (Henry Wentworth), 1815-1900Le Keux, John Henry, 1812-1896Lorrain, Claude, 1600-1682Ruskin, John, 1819-1900Turner, J. M. W. (Joseph Mallord William), 1775-1851
- Finding Aid Title:
- John Ruskin letters to John Henry Le Keux
- Collection PDF:
- https://ead-pdfs.library.yale.edu/11772.pdf
- Archival Object:
- https://archives.yale.edu/repositories/3/archival_objects/3449683
- Metadata Cloud URL:
- https://metadata-api.library.yale.edu/metadatacloud/api/aspace/repositories/3/archival_objects/3449683?mediaType=json&include-notes=1&include-all-subjects=1