Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
- INTRODUCTION TO THIS VOLUME
- PART I “ACADEMY NOTES” (1855–1859, 1875)
- LIST OF ARTISTS AND WORKS MENTIONED IN “ACADEMY NOTES”
- PART II LETTERS AND PAPERS ON PICTURES AND ARTISTS (1858–1887)
- PART III NOTES ON SAMUEL PROUT AND WILLIAM HUNT (1879–1880)
- APPENDIX
- I LETTERS ON “ACADEMY NOTES”
- II LETTERS TO JAMES SMETHAM (1854–1871)
- III SPEECH ON THOMAS SEDDON (1857)
- IV LETTERS TO G. F. WATTS, R.A. (1860–1866)
- V THE REFLECTION OF RAINBOWS IN WATER (1861)
- VI EVIDENCE BEFORE THE ROYAL ACADEMY COMMISSION
- VII MODERN CARICATURE
- VIII THE ART OF MEZZOTINT (1884)
- IX THE NUDE IN ART (1885)
- X NOTES ON J. E. MILLAIS, R.A. (1886)
- XI PASSAGES FROM EXHIBITION CATALOGUES, ETC.
- Plate section
II - LETTERS TO JAMES SMETHAM (1854–1871)
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 February 2015
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
- INTRODUCTION TO THIS VOLUME
- PART I “ACADEMY NOTES” (1855–1859, 1875)
- LIST OF ARTISTS AND WORKS MENTIONED IN “ACADEMY NOTES”
- PART II LETTERS AND PAPERS ON PICTURES AND ARTISTS (1858–1887)
- PART III NOTES ON SAMUEL PROUT AND WILLIAM HUNT (1879–1880)
- APPENDIX
- I LETTERS ON “ACADEMY NOTES”
- II LETTERS TO JAMES SMETHAM (1854–1871)
- III SPEECH ON THOMAS SEDDON (1857)
- IV LETTERS TO G. F. WATTS, R.A. (1860–1866)
- V THE REFLECTION OF RAINBOWS IN WATER (1861)
- VI EVIDENCE BEFORE THE ROYAL ACADEMY COMMISSION
- VII MODERN CARICATURE
- VIII THE ART OF MEZZOTINT (1884)
- IX THE NUDE IN ART (1885)
- X NOTES ON J. E. MILLAIS, R.A. (1886)
- XI PASSAGES FROM EXHIBITION CATALOGUES, ETC.
- Plate section
Summary
My Dear Sir,—I am quite amazed, almost awed, by the amount of talent and industry and thoughtfulness shown in these books of yours. What is the nature of your artistic occupation? I am very anxious to know all that you are willing to tell me about yourself. Please let me keep the volumes at least until Tuesday next. I cannot look them over properly sooner; and meantime send me a line, if I may ask you to take this trouble, telling me what your real employment in life has been, and how your genius has been employed or unemployed in it.—Faithfully yours, and obliged,
J. Ruskin.Dear Mr. Smetham,—I hardly know whether I am more gratified by your kindly feeling or more sorry that you should think it is in any wise necessary to express it in so costly a way; for costly this drawing has been to you, both of time, thought, and physical toil. I have hardly ever seen any work of the kind so far carried as the drawing in the principal face. I shall indeed value it highly: but if indeed you think any words or thoughts of mine have been ever true to you, pray consider these likely to be the truest, that it is unsafe for you, with your peculiar temperament, to set yourself subjects of this pathetic and exciting kind for some time to come. Your health is not sturdy: you are not satisfied with what you do; and have to do some work that is irksome and tedious to you.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Works of John Ruskin , pp. 460 - 463Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010First published in: 1904