Ruskin

Ruskin

John Ruskin (1819-1900), an English writer and art critic, is regarded as a moral guide or prophet because of his comments on society. It is said that his book "to this last" had an impact on Gandhi.

Ruskin - Introduction

John Ruskin was born into a wealthy family of wine merchants in London. He received strict family education from childhood. Every summer, I visited famous mountains and rivers with my parents, visited ancient buildings and famous paintings, and cultivated my love for nature and art. He entered the Christian College of Oxford University in 1836 and dropped out in 1840 due to illness. After two years in Italy, while collecting information engaged in writing. His important works on artistic issues include modern painter (Volume 1, 1843), seven lights of Architecture (1849), stone of Venice (1851-1853), essays and speeches. He thinks that art can not be separated from life, so in the process of discussing art problems, he always pays close attention to the practical problems of society. He also criticized social inequality and called for universal education. In 1860, he finished the second and third volumes of the modern painter. After that, he ended his work of art criticism and turned to the study of economy and labor. In 1871, he organized St. George's society in an attempt to realize his reformist social ideal and establish a utopia. He donated all his income to this organization and other charities, but the cause he advocated did not get people's support, so he made no achievements. He was extremely dissatisfied with his love life. In 1848, he married Effie gray according to his mother's order, and divorced in 1854. In addition, he was weak and sick, so he could not avoid pessimism and depression, mixed with anger. In 1879, he lived in seclusion in the town of Brentwood on the Bank of Lake kongston in Lancashire. He died of cerebral fever on January 20, 1900. His autobiographical work "the past", which recalled the life of his youth, was written intermittently from 1885 to 1889, and failed to complete.

John Ruskin and his mother

Ruskin was brought up by his mother. His mother was a devout Puritan. She regarded all her play as sin, so she never bought toys for young Ruskin. The mother spent hours every morning reading the Bible with her son. At that time, primary school was not compulsory, so Ruskin only went to school for a few months. Most education is at home. He was admitted to Oxford at the age of 18. The mother just rented a room near the University and watched her son's life closely. It is said that the mother has left her husband in London for more than three years and lives in Oxford Street herself. Ruskin's marriage life is not happy. In 1848, he married Effie gray according to his mother's order. In 1854, he divorced and his wife left him. In his later years, he said, "my education is generally wrong and unfortunate." It is said that he went crazy many times when he grew up. Especially in the year before his death, he suffered from extreme mental disorder.

Wilde and John Ruskin

Oscar Wilde, a great British writer, met John Ruskin, a professor of art at Oxford University three weeks after he went to modron college. Ruskin was famous in Europe at that time. He was an expert in art, architecture and Italian Renaissance. At that time, he had just started a course on "Florentine aesthetics and art school". Wang Erde was very interested in the name of the course, and immediately chose this course, and became a student of Ruskin. In class, Ruskin stressed the necessity of beauty, the sublimity of labor, and the ugliness of machinery, which made Wilde become his most devout believer. Although Oscar Wilde was first inspired by Ruskin when he studied in Oxford, he later betrayed Ruskin's art theory and became a follower of Walter Pater. Ruskin's student was later jailed and discredited for his indecency.

Ruskin: main works and brief analysis

Main works

Ruskin's representative works include to this day (1862), sesame and Lily (1865), wild olive corolla (1866), the power of laborers (1871), seven lights of Architecture (1849), stone of Venice (1851-1853) and economic interpretation (1872).

Brief analysis of main works

In these works, he put forward his own ethical and economic ideas. He believes that the political and economic principles of the bourgeoisie are against humanity. He opposed the British legislation to maintain the exploitation system, and thought that the problem between labor and capital was a moral problem, and capitalists should not squeeze the sweat of workers. He also believes that the development of mechanical technology stifles the initiative of workers. He idealized the handicraft labor in the middle ages and advocated returning to the old pre capitalist era. He spoke highly of the works of art in the early Renaissance and denied the secular and sensual art of the Renaissance. This view of art is consistent with his view of society. In a word, he thinks that the industrial capitalist society is too ugly, without art and beauty.

Ruskin - character evaluation and related cases

Character evaluation

Ruskin has been known as the "messenger of beauty" in Britain for 50 years. He fought for beauty all his life. His writing is also very beautiful, colorful and sonorous. For example, "the modern painter" and "the past" are excellent works in prose.

Ruskin was charitable, sympathized with British workers and laborers, formed St. George's fraternity. At the same time, he also tried to run industry for many times and rebuilt linen handicraft workshops. He is concerned about the current situation of Britain, criticizes the current situation, criticizes bitterly, and puts forward his own unique views. He made use of the opportunities he could take to deliver speeches to the public and publicize his views. Ruskin is not a scientific socialist. He claimed to be an old Tory, but after all, he claimed to be a self styled man. His thought was quite progressive at that time, so he was strongly opposed and refuted by the defenders of capitalist industrial society, and he was known as a eccentric Radicalist. The reason why sesame and Lily has become a famous prose of Ruskin is not only because of its literary grace, but also because it has substance in its words. It interweaves social problems with reading and exploration and other issues of universal social significance. It is worthy of reading because it touches on the real shortcomings of Britain. The real implication of Ruskin's opening story is to grasp the key to the treasure house of knowledge, to explore deeply, to grasp the present, and to develop life.

Whistler v. Ruskin

There was a long-lasting lawsuit between Ruskin and Whistler, the representative painter of aestheticism in his later years. The thing is as follows: one day, Ruskin and Wilde visited an important painting exhibition with Whistler's works. Ruskin was quite dissatisfied with the painting "fireworks scattered on the Thames: Serenade of black and gold". This is an oil painting with irregular dots on a black base. Ruskin thinks that "it's a kind of deception to knock over the paint can on the canvas and ask the audience to pay for it." In 1875, Whistler sued Ruskin to the white District Court of London for insulting his reputation. In a famous lawsuit with Ruskin, the court finally found Ruskin guilty, but only paid a fine of 10p. This humorous joke mediates the quarrel between two famous scholars, but Whistler has nothing to pay half of the legal costs. The lawsuit between Whistler and Ruskin has also become a good story in the history of world painting.