RUSKIN (JOHN)


Five autograph letters signed ("J Ruskin"), to the painter Frederick Francis Foottet ("My dear Mr Footitt [sic]"), instructing him on his art and study ("...I would advise you to stay in Derby, and form an honourable and consistent position there, painting portraits with conscientious attention, and employing your summers in study of the lovely landscape of your county... To come up to London would be to expose yourself to the chance of having to struggle wretchedly and meanly among mean people... A run up to London annually to see – not the Academy, but the National gallery – prolonged sometimes to Paris, sometimes to Antwerp or Bruges, will keep your mind in true tone, and sympathy with the highest art: of which photographs, (the originals once seen) will be admirable auxiliary memorials..."); in other letters urging Foottet to tell him all he possibly can about his experiences in spiritualism, sparing him no details whatsoever ("...The subject of spiritualism is foremost with me of [sic] all I have to investigate as a teacher:- to myself personally it is of momentous and unspeakable interest..."), commenting on a French oculist who imputes Turner's late style [to the effect of jaundice] ("...I am glad you did tell that report about Turner! It all began with a ridiculous French oculist...") and praising Goldsmith ("...He and I are in perfect sympathy in all things – but I can't write like him. – ah no, no..."); with envelopes, 9 pages, some browning, wear and weakness at folds, stamps removed from envelopes, 8vo, Venice and elsewhere, 1877-79 where dated
|'TRUE TONE, AND SYMPATHY WITH THE HIGHEST ART' – Ruskin gives advice to a young painter. The Barnsley-born Frederick Francis Foottet was at this time living in Derby, having made his debut at the RA in 1873, and exhibiting there until the 1930s. Ruskin had praised his first exhibited painting, but asked of it 'Yes, the artist is painting trees, but is he sure that he can draw a leaf?'; which persuaded Foottet to spend several months of intensive study of fruit and leaves under the Master. But his advice notwithstanding, Foottet, broke, moved to London and, breaking with Ruskin's style, took up a more symbolist manner (see the 'Frederick Francis Foottet: A Forgotten Master', 29 January 2011, in the Idbury Prints Adventures in the Print Trade blog).