John Ruskin, H.R.W.S. (London 1819-1900)

Ruskin recommended the close study of small details from nature as a basic exercise in drawing. There are numerous careful studies by the artist of incidental natural details, such as flowers, foliage, rocks, feathers or shells. There is a similar watercolour to the present work in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, entitled Study of Foreground Material.

We are grateful to Stephen Wildman for his help in preparing this catalogue entry.