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Budding Sycamore
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The most influential art critic in Britain during the 19th century, John Ruskin was also an amateur artist for whom drawing was the cornerstone of artistic practice. Since his early youth, a keen perception of the world and obsessive desire to capture nature in all of its details found expression in his drawings. In this study of a leafing sycamore in early spring, Ruskin combined exquisite detail with atmospheric rendering of space, leaving the edges of the drawing unresolved. This sheet exemplifies his belief that drawn fragments, if sensitively observed, were capable of suggesting the profound mysteries of the natural world.
| Artist / Maker | John Ruskin |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1876 |
| Culture / Origin | England, 19th century |
| Medium | black and gray wash, gouache, and graphite |
| Dimensions | Sheet: 34.8 x 44.8 cm (13 11/16 x 17 5/8 in.) |
| Department | Drawings |
| Type | Drawing |
About the Artist
BiographyJohn Ruskin (1819–1900) — English writer and art critic (1819–1900).John Ruskin worked as writer, art critic, art historian, philosopher and painter and is associated with United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and United Kingdom. Their documented life spans the years 1819 to 1900, born in London, died in Coniston. Their work is linked to Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, freethought.Disciplineswriter, art critic, art historian, philosopher, painterBorn1819, LondonDied1900, ConistonNationalityUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United KingdomMovementPre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, freethoughtSources: Wikidata · Wikipedia Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
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