Lot 49
Ruskin, John (1819-1900)
Two autograph letters signed
Auction: 02 October 2025 from 10:00 BST
Description
Letter addressed to Miss Hartnell, dated Tuesday, 30th / 31st December, from John Ruskin, writing: 'I want to come and see you one day this week. Any afternoon will do… London gobbled me up like Jonah's whale…, JRuskin', 11 x 18cm, in addressed envelope;
Ibid. Letter addressed to Miss Hartnell written on Brantwood notepaper, undated, from John Ruskin, writing: ‘…could you write for me, in that beautiful and fine hand of yours, the ? facts respecting the circumstances, education, and purest character of any child or children who have particularly interested you in your ?, telling me what mistakes you made - and what successful wise things you did… and could you - without pain, set down the level facts of your own life, and of its training?… JR’, 11 x 18cm, in franked addressed envelope; and two further envelopes (4)
Footnote
Ada Hartnell was one of the 32 original members of the Guild of St George, the utopian social organisation Ruskin established in 1878 on the model of the guilds of medieval Venice. She is mentioned by Ruskin in Fors Clavigera as one of a select group of guild companions 'in whose future adherence and support I have entire trust'. An additional collection of letters from Ruskin to Hartnell was sold by Lyon & Turnbull on 28th September 2022 (lot 54).