Modern Painters

The first volume of Ruskin's acclaimed artistic analyses is presented here complete with original and supplementary illustrations, and the original diagrams.

One of the most lauded art critics of the nineteenth century, John Ruskin built a reputation as a well-informed, passionate figure in the world of painting and sculpture. As well as working as a lecturer and advocate of social reform, Ruskin would devote much time to writing books on all manner of subjects; travelogues, poetry and instructive manuals to name but a few. 

However Ruskin was best regarded for his treatises on art and architecture. Decades of his life were characterised by attempting to find a plainer, more straightforward way of expressing his thoughts on artistic works so that his ideas and criticisms would achieve the greatest impact on the readership. 

In Modern Painters, Ruskin was reasonably successful: each portion of this book is set out logically, with each chapter covering a specific principle of the creative process. We observe Ruskin's thoughts about how artists may best convey aspects of their painting through the apt presentation of colors, scenes and subjects. In particular, Ruskin describes the works of the Romanticist J. M. W. Turner - an artist he viewed as almost the embodiment of greatness. 

This volume is in two parts - Of General Principles and Of Truth.

The first part covers the various ideas and motivations which Ruskin believed characterised all artists to some extent, and the sense of power and profundity works of art communicate to those beholding them. What constitutes a great work of art, and the various ideas and feelings art has the ability to convey, are also discussed. 

The second part contains sequential examinations of the constituent parts of a painting. Thus there are sections on light, on water, on the earth and vegetation, and theories on the use of color. We also hear Ruskin's complex theories of the 'truths' in art, wherein he expounds on how an artist may best achieve truth and beauty in his work, and even makes distinctions between different types of truth.