Ruskin, John. Letters to Joan Severn, 1866, 1888 | Rare Book & Manuscript Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

By RBML Staff and Meg Hixon

Submit request (Aeon) |

Printer-friendly |

Email Us

Collection Overview

Title: Ruskin, John. Letters to Joan Severn, 1866, 1888

Predominant Dates:1888

ID: 01/02/02/POST-1650 MS 0009

Primary Creator: Severn, Joan (1846-1924)

Other Creators: Ruskin, John (1819-1900)

Extent: 31.0 Items

Arrangement: Items related to Margaret Ruskin and Arthur Severn are followed by John Ruskin's letters to Joan Severn, which are arranged chronologically.

Subjects: France - Description and travel, Italy - Description and travel, Switzerland - Description and travel

Languages: English

Abstract

This collection consists primarily of letters that John Ruskin wrote to his cousin, Joan Severn, while traveling in France, Italy, and Switzerland in the fall of 1888.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection (31 items) contains correspondence related to English writer John Ruskin. Early items include a letter by Ruskin's mother, Margaret, and three letters from John Ruskin to Arthur Severn regarding their artwork. The bulk of the collection consists of 26 letters that John Ruskin wrote to his cousin, Joan Severn, while traveling in France, Italy, and Switzerland in September and October of 1888. In these letters, Ruskin described his travel plans, his health, finances, and the locales he visited.

Collection Historical Note

A native of London and Surrey, England, John Ruskin (1819-1900) matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford, in 1837 and received his MA in 1843. He became an influential art and social critic and founded the Ruskin School of Drawing at Oxford in 1871; he held the Slade professorship there from 1871-1878 and 1883-1884. In June 1888, Ruskin traveled to France with Arthur Severn; he later continued on to Italy, Switzerland, and back to France before returning to England that December.

Joan Severn (née Agnew) (1846-1924), a cousin of John Ruskin, nursed him through several mental health difficulties in his later years. She and her husband, Arthur, were close friends of John Ruskin and the Ruskin family.

Source

Hewison, Robert. "Ruskin, John (1819-1900)." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Online edition. Oxford University Press: 2016. doi: 10.1093/ref:odnb/24291.

Subject/Index Terms

France - Description and travel
Italy - Description and travel
Switzerland - Description and travel

Administrative Information

Repository: Rare Book & Manuscript Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Access Restrictions: The collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions:

This collection is the physical property of the Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Intellectual property rights, including copyright, may reside with the materials' creator(s) or their heirs.

The library welcomes requests for reproductions made from works in our collections, though restrictions may apply to certain materials. Please contact the library with any questions.

Processing Information: Incorporated into the William Allingham Papers.

Finding Aid Revision History: Revised by Meg Hixon, July 2016

Other Note:

Former shelfmark: MS 4102

Former shelfmark: X B.R956r1l

URL: https://i-share-uiu.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01CARLI_UIU/17ks9l7/alma99198034712205899

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[All]

Box 1

Item 1: Letter fragment from Chislehurst, London, to "G. P.", undated: 1 item (4 pages): manuscript. A personal letter.
Item 2: Letter from Margaret Ruskin, Denmark Hill, London, to John Ruskin, 1866 May 24: 2 items (2 pages): manuscript. With envelope addressed to "Miss Alexander" in Florence, Italy. Discusses her opposition to using brandy as a medicine for children. Mentions Lady Trevelyan's death and Ruskin's book.
Item 3: Letter from John Ruskin, Brantwood, Cumbria, to Arthur Severn, undated: 1 item (2 pages): manuscript. Discusses Severn's artistic talent.
Item 4: Letter from John Ruskin, Denmark Hill, London, to Arthur Severn?, undated: 1 item (3 pages): manuscript. Discusses Severn's artwork.
Item 5: Letter from John Ruskin, Beauvais, France, to Arthur Severn?, undated: 1 item (3 pages): manuscript. Dated "31 August." Discusses his admiration for Beauvais and his intention to sketch during his time there.
Item 6: Letter from John Ruskin, Romsey, England, to Joan Severn, undated: 1 item (2 pages): manuscript. Expresses thanks for a recent gift. Mentions his recent health issues.
Item 7: Letter from John Ruskin, Sallanches, France, to Joan Severn, 1888 September 12: 2 items (3 pages): manuscript. With envelope. A personal letter. Mentions a sketch of swallows. Includes an overhead map of his quarters.
Item 8: Letter from John Ruskin, Chamonix, France, to Joan Severn, 1888 September 15: 1 item (4 pages): manuscript. Mentions his social activity and acquaintances, particularly "Judith."
Item 9: Letter from John Ruskin, Chamonix, France, to Joan Severn, 1888 September 16: 2 items (1 page): manuscript. With envelope. A personal letter.
Item 10: Letter from John Ruskin, Chamonix, France, to Joan Severn, 1888 September 18: 1 item (1 page): manuscript. Mentions his intention to leave Chamonix.
Item 11: Letter from John Ruskin, Brig, Switzerland, to Joan Severn, 1888 September 19: 1 item (3 pages): manuscript. Describes his journey from Chamonix to Brig and discusses his finances. Requests a loan.
Item 12: Letter from John Ruskin, Domodossola, Italy, to Joan Severn, 1888 September 21: 2 items (1 page): manuscript. With envelope. Describes his recent travels.
Item 13: Letter from John Ruskin, Baveno, Italy, to Joan Severn, 1888 September 22: 2 items (2 pages): manuscript. With envelope. Describes his route to Milan by steamer and rail, and a hotel lobby.
Item 14: Letter from John Ruskin, Milan, Italy, to Joan Severn, 1888 September 23: 1 item (3 pages): manuscript. Mentions his recent health issues and describes changes in Milan.
Item 15: Letter from John Ruskin, Verona, Italy, to Joan Severn, 1888 September 26: 2 items (3 pages): manuscript. With envelope. Expresses his admiration for Verona and expresses his lack of regret over his recent spending. Discusses his work on a book.
Item 16: Letter from John Ruskin, Bassano del Grappa, Italy, to Joan Severn, 1888 September 27: 2 items (2 pages): manuscript. With envelope. Expresses his admiration for Bassano del Grappa.
Item 17: Letter from John Ruskin, Bassano del Grappa, Italy, to Joan Severn, 1888 September 28: 2 items (1 page): manuscript. With envelope. Discusses his positive relationship with local residents.
Item 18: Letter from John Ruskin, Bassano del Grappa, Italy, to Joan Severn, 1888 September 30: 1 item (2 pages): manuscript. Mentions his previous travels in Switzerland.
Item 19: Letter from John Ruskin, Bassano del Grappa, Italy, to Joan Severn, 1888 October 2: 1 item (2 pages): manuscript. Describes his activities with local residents. Mentions the price of a book.
Item 20: Letter from John Ruskin, Bassano del Grappa, Italy, to Joan Severn, 1888 October 3: 2 items (2 pages): manuscript. With envelope. A personal letter.
Item 21: Letter from John Ruskin, Venice, Italy, to Joan Severn, 1888 October 6: 1 item (1 page): manuscript. A personal letter. Includes a note in an unidentified hand with additional text from a second leaf (not present).
Item 22: Letter from John Ruskin, Venice, Italy, to Joan Severn, 1888 October 7: 2 items (2 pages): manuscript. With envelope. Expresses his regret for leaving Beauvais. Mentions local acquaintances.
Item 23: Letter from John Ruskin, Venice, Italy, to Joan Severn, 1888 October 16: 1 item (1 page): manuscript. Discusses his intention to return to Milan and travel on to Fluelen, Switzerland. Discusses the possibility of others renting rooms in the Palais Royal.
Item 24: Letter from John Ruskin, Milan, Italy, to Joan Severn, 1888 October 18: 1 item (1 page): manuscript. A personal letter.
Item 25: Letter from John Ruskin, Fluelen, Switzerland, to Joan Severn, 1888 October 18: 1 item (2 pages): manuscript. Discusses his recent travels and his health.
Item 26: Letter from John Ruskin, Fluelen, Switzerland, to Joan Severn, 1888 October 20: 2 items (1 page): manuscript. With envelope. A personal letter.
Item 27: Letter from John Ruskin, Fluelen, Switzerland, to Joan Severn, 1888 October 21?: 1 item (1 page): manuscript. Dated "Sunday." A personal letter. Expresses his hope that he will receive a letter from her soon.
Item 28: Letter from John Ruskin, Fluelen, Switzerland, to Joan Severn, 1888 October 23?: 1 item (2 pages): manuscript. Dated "Tuesday." Discusses his lodgings in Paris.
Item 29: Letter from John Ruskin, Fluelen, Switzerland, to Joan Severn, 1888 October 24: 1 item (2 pages): manuscript. Mentions his recent correspondence with others and discusses "chills."
Item 30: Letter from John Ruskin, Fluelen, Switzerland, to Joan Severn, 1888 October 28: 2 items (1 page): manuscript. With envelope. Mentions his plan to travel to Berne and his reluctance to leave the mountains.
Item 31: Letter from John Ruskin, Bern, Switzerland, to Joan Severn, 1888 October 30: 2 items (1 page): manuscript. With envelope. Mentions his reluctance to leave the mountains.

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[All]