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Lot 106

RUSKIN (JOHN)
Autograph letter signed ("J Ruskin"), to "Dear Mr Harris", wishing him a happy New Year; 'I NEVER CAN ALLOW THAT TURNER IS THE LEAST ABOVE ANYBODY WHO CARES FOR GOOD DRAWING' – Ruskin gives a drawing lesson, Brantwood, 2 January 1885

25 March 2015, 11:00 GMT
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £2,250 inc. premium

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RUSKIN (JOHN)

Autograph letter signed ("J Ruskin"), to "Dear Mr Harris", wishing him a happy New Year and still more wishing that he might have the pleasure "in beginning it by washing in the sea & sky I send you with warm sepia, and copying the etching with pen & ink"; adding that "I never can allow that Turner is the least above anybody who cares for good drawing or good tinting!"; and returning best thanks for his "pretty letter", 1 page, on headed paper, integral blank, 8vo, Brantwood, 2 January 1885

Footnotes

'I NEVER CAN ALLOW THAT TURNER IS THE LEAST ABOVE ANYBODY WHO CARES FOR GOOD DRAWING' – Ruskin gives a drawing lesson. The recipient of this letter is Frederick Harris, identified by Cook and Wedderburn as a drawing master, who took a correspondence course from Ruskin, his letters appearing for sale at Sotheby's in 1903 (12 and 13 March, lots 325-348), with some being resold by Maggs in 1907. Cook and Wedderburn print one of these letters and give details of thirty-four, although ours does not appear among those listed (Letters of John Ruskin, pp. 553, 662-5).

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