The Borghese Gardens
ca. 1840
Long before he became the Victorian era's most famous art critic, John Ruskin was obsessed with drawing rocks, believing that close observation was the key to understanding nature. Here, a cluster of boulders in Rome's Borghese Gardens comes alive through loose pencil lines and brown wash, showcasing his meticulous attention to geological texture. His intense focus on 'truth to nature' in sketches like this directly inspired the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, who would later revolutionize British art. It turns out, a simple pile of rocks can be pretty dramatic when viewed through Ruskin's eyes.
- Technique
- Pencil and brown wash
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