Ruskin and his Victorian readers

Abstract

Modern Painters (1843-60) and The Stones of Venice (1851-3) made John Ruskin one of the most influential critics of the nineteenth century. But these magisterial works were followed by a series of very different books, as Ruskin published lectures and essays which addressed the most contentious political and social issues of his day. He became a celebrated and sometimes vilified cultural figure, challenging contemporary values and assumptions. This article explores the shifting dynamics of Ruskin’s reputation, asking who read his work, and how he was understood, as he became an increasingly controversial figure in a period of turbulent change.

Keywords

• ruskin
• publishing practice
• lectures
• sermons
• visual arts
• letters