Ruskin

The Ruskin Collection is owned by the Guild of St George and cared for by Sheffield Museums. It was originally formed by the influential Victorian artist, writer and critic John Ruskin to stimulate the creative imaginations of the metalworkers and craftspeople of Sheffield. It was first displayed in the St George’s Museum in Walkley in 1875.

The collection illustrates the breadth of Ruskin’s interests as an artist, critic, geologist, naturalist, writer and social commentator. It now contains around 16,000 objects, including watercolours, drawings, prints, plaster casts, minerals, illustrated books, manuscripts and coins, which reflect Ruskin’s ideas. Ruskin wanted people to look closely at the world around them and immerse themselves in nature and art. Strong themes in the collection include the power of drawing, natural history and architecture, in particular of the buildings of Venice. The collection includes works by J.M.W Turner, Albrecht Dürer, Charlotte Murray and John James Audubon.

The Guild of St George is the charity established by Ruskin to improve people’s lives through art education, craft work and the rural economy. Exhibitions inspired by the collection are displayed in the Ruskin Gallery, Millennium Gallery, connecting Ruskin’s thinking to contemporary life.

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