RUSKIN AND VICTORIAN INTELLECTUAL LIFE

Manuscripts of John Ruskin (1819-1900) from the Ruskin Library, University of Lancaster

Part 1: Diaries, 1835-1888

Part 2: Correspondence with Joan Severn, 1864-1899

Detailed Listing - Part 1

REEL 1

The following listing provides brief details of each diary giving:
Manuscript number (eg MS1); date; Brief Title [if any]; physical description; notes on some of the places or events covered with page references.

MS 1
1835 (aged 16)
Tour Abroad.
Maroon leather. 18 x 11.5cm. pp1-172 + ink sketches.
Discussions of Canterbury (p1), Abbeville, Rouen (p4), Dijon (p10), Geneva (p15), Chamouni (p27), Carmayeur (p66), Martigny (p71), Vevay (p74), Neuchatel (p77), Basle (p78), Constance (p82), Zurich (p82), Grendelwald (p130), Interlaken (p132), Thun (p136), Berne (p139), Baden (p142), Winterthur (p142), Innsbruck (p150), Mals (p155), Morbegno (p168), Varenna (p170) and Lake Como.
Ruskin shows a strong interest in geology in this diary. For instance, his description of Canterbury dwells not on the medieval glories of the city but on its rocks and soil:

”Beneath the chalk range of Shakespeare’s cliff, there is a bed of stiff white clay, containing nodules of radiating pyrites, which are scattered over all the beach by the sea. I have found large masses of lustrous yellow pyrites, (in one specimen found upon a nodule of blue iron-stone) this mineral on the least exposure to the air is decomposed, the pyrites becomes dull, and falls into dust at a touch, and a yellow sulphurous efflorescence appearance upon the fracture ….”

MS 2
1840-1841 (aged 21)
Brown leather with clasp removed. pp35-256. 2 inserts, blue pages, diagrams.
Discussions of Brisnok (?) (p36), Le Puy (p38), Valence (p44), Nice (p55), Genoa (p64), Lucca (p66), Pisa (p69), Florence (p72), Rome (p87), Naples (p120), Sorrento ((p152), Naples (p161), Rome (p171), Florence (p186), Bologna (p192), Venice (p197), Padua (p204), Verona (p206), Cremona ((p208), Milan ((p209), Turin (p213), Geneva (p220), Lausanne (p222), Neuchatel (p224), Basle (p228), and Rochester (p239).
This diary is full of wonderful impressionistic writing describing weather formations and the landscape. For instance, when in Rome he writes:

”There was a wild thundery sky over the Apennines showing itself at the extremity of the corridors with deep & lurid blue cloud – and veils of rain – the snowy rays gleaming through the mist – distinguishable only to my practised eye from the white masses of thunder-cloud tossed amongst them – the [?] city & the capital lying in various shadows beneath all contributing to our great excitement. I am still feverish with it and must keep quiet.”

MS 3
31 Mar 1840 – 23 Jun 1840, Jan 1843 – Jan 1847
Green leather, spine missing. 23.6 x 20cm. pp121-196 + [1] + 96 blank. 1 insert, page attached with sealing wax; 1 loose leaf (p62) dated 1840. pp162-164 torn out.
The diary starts with the declaration:

“I have determined to keep one sort of diary for intellect & another for feeling – I shall put down here whatever is worth remembering of the casual knowledge that we gain so much of every day in conversation – and generally lose every tomorrow – much is thus lost that cannot be recovered from books.”

Discussions of Macready (p124), Modern Painters (p124), the Royal Academy (p134), Effie (p161) and Dulwich Gallery (p175). There is much on his writing and on sermons, dinners, walks and his views of J M W Turner. On p166 he reveals himself as a driven man:
”Well. I don’t think I have done so much in this year as in the last - … Not enough.”

MS 4
1844
Maroon leather, brass clasp. 23.7cm. Contains drawings, sketches and diagrams.
Discussions of Geneva (f3), Champagnole, Paris (including thoughts on the paintings of Perugino at the Louvre) (f4v), Chamonix (f7), Poussin & Giorgione (f18v), Brieg (f43), Baveno (f44), Simplon (f47), Zermatt (f51) and Chamounie (f53). He expresses strong views concerning the artists he examines. For instance:

”In going through the Doge’s palace again today I was struck by the quantity of conventionality necessary even in the works of the greatest painters. The buildings on the right of the piazzetta looking seaward are given by Tintoret[to] in his picture of the Doge … with the Lion; they are thrown in most flimsily and carelessly….”

REEL 2

MS 5a
1845
Brown leather and gilt with brass clasp. 24.5cm. pp117 +[10] + 10 blank. Contains sketches, drawings, architectural details and copies of frescos on the reverse of most pages.
This volume has much on artists. There are discussions of Guido, Domenicho, Guercino, Rubens, Veronese, Van Dyke, Raphael and Dürer (p4).

MS 5b
1845
Quarter vellum with marbled boards. 26.7cm. pp1-97 + [40] +[10]. Pencil sketches in front and back covers.
Discussions of Lucca (p1), Pisa (p8), Florence (p44), Fiesole (p59) and Florence (p61).
Once again, there is much on painters and paintings.

MS 5c
1846-1847, Feb – Mar 1849, 1850
Maroon leather and gilt, glued into blue cloth case. 26.7 x 21.7cm. pp1-177. Contains pen and ink sketches and 1 colour wash.
Discussions of Melun (p1), Dijon (1), Champagnole (p3), Geneva (p5), Annecy (p6), Vercelli (p10), Bergamo, Como (p11), Verona (p14), Brescia (p17), Venice (p20), Padua (p29), Bologna (p30), Florence (p53), Geneva (p55), Lucerne (p38), Chatillon (42), Troyes, Dijon (p44), London (p46), Wood’s Travels – Extracts (pp51-62), Leamington (p63), Gothic windows at Merton College, Oxford (p112), Salisbury Cathedral (p114), preaching (p149), the episcopacy (p149), and a letter to Dr Chambers on the Prince of Wales (p177).

MS 6
1848-1849
Half blue leather with marbled boards and brass clasp. pp22-188, 177-239. Contains drawings and sketches. Contents given at f1v.
Discussions of Bayeux (p34), Caen (p34), St Martins (p158), Chapier (p159), Zermatt (p167), Chamouni (p183), Caen (p240), Rouen (p242), Genova (p268), Vevay (p276), the picturesque (p297), Amiens (p323), Chamouni (p328), Amiens (p353), Chamouni (p356), and waterfalls (p434).

MS 7
1846, 1849, 1854, 1858, 1859, 1887, 1888
Black leather. 18cm. pp1-61 (62-200 blank).
Discussions of travel (p1), Monte Viso (p9), Konigstein (p11), Notes on Daniel (p12), Grande Chartreuse (p20), Story of Guignes (p35), Milan (p48) and notes on religious figures.

MS 8
1851-1852
Full vellum. 23.4cm. pp1-113 [14-16 torn out]. Includes sketches of Ducal Palace and Giornico (A1-A4), Addresses (A5-A11), Diary and Notes (pp1-47), Memoranda (pp47-55), Church History (pp56-57). Reverse cover – ‘Names of thus Accounts’.
Discussions of Paris (p1), Vercelli (p4), Brescia (p8), Verona (p10), Venice (p11), Chamouni (p13), Edinburgh (p77), Art & Religion (p96) and the picturesque (p110).

REEL 3

MS 9
1854
Full vellum. 19.5cm. pp1-120 + [11]. Contains drawings and diagrams.
Discussions of Calais, Amiens (p1), Beauvais (p5), Gisors (p7), Chartres (p10), Geneva (p11), Interlaken (p13), Thun (p17), Lucerne (p18), Chamouni (p20), Geneva (p27), Sallenche (p33), Beatitudes (p34), General contents of Revelations (p38), Chamouni (p46), Sion (p49), Champagnole (p68) and pages of Yolande.

MS 10
1849
Full vellum with brass clasp. 22.5cm. pp1-224 + inserts (2 pages, 26.5 x 27.5cm folded in four).
Discussions of Dijon (p1), Milan (p4), Monza (p15), Verona (p19) and Venice (p75ff).

MS 10a
1854
Turner… Missals… Index.
Full vellum. 25.5cm. pp [i] + 1-152 [pp32-45, 152 blank]. Contains drawings and sketches.
Discussions of books to be seen or got (pi), notes from Milner on Sismondi (p1), books needed (p10), notes on W Fawkes’ drawings (p56), catalogue of sketches in neighbourhood of Mont Blanc (p93) and notes on Truth and Justice (p142).

MS 11
1856, 1857, 1858, 1859
Full vellum. 19.8cm. pp1-300. Contains some sketches.
Discussions of Amiens (p1), Senlis (p2), Strasbourg (p7), analysis of texts relating to conduct and faith in the Old Testament (p17), Chamouni (p22), Dijon (p29), Paris (p36), Amiens (p39), various trips from 1840 to 1859 (pp41-43), Rheinfelden (p71), Dresden (p156), Calais (p144), Dusseldorf (p149), Munich (p270), Caravaggio, Veronese, Van Dyck and Murillo.

REEL 4

MS 12
1861, 1862, 1863
Rocks … Econ … Geology, Switzerland, MINERALS.
20.4 x 17cm. pp [iv] + 1-141, 145-262.
Lists of Popes, Italian officials, historic events, rocks and strata.
Discussions of Norwood-Bonneville (p260), Geneva, Lucerne (p258), Altorf (p254), Milan (p237) and Geneva (p226).

MS 13
1861, 1862, 1863, 1870
Blue cloth. 23cm. pp1-116. Indexed pages a-z.
Discussions of his study bookcase (p1), diary (p18) and photographs (p71).

MS 14
1860 - Oct 1867
Switzerland, Keswick, London.
Blue calf. 18cm. pp1-17…
Discussions of Thun (p4), Interlaken (p5), Giesbach (p9), Lucerne (p12), Berne (p15), Paris (p16) and home (p17).

REEL 5

MS 15
Oct 1867 - Feb 1870
Abbeville book.
Full black calf. 17.5cm. pp1-119 + [9] + index.
Discussions of Belgrade (p28), Abbeville (p35), botanical notes (p39), Paris (p56), Abbeville (p57) and home (p61).

MS 16
1869, 1870, 1871, 1873, 1874
Dark blue calf. 22cm. pp1-189… Contains sketches.
Discussions of a tour to Verona and Venice with Burgess (p1), Lombrads (p4), sculpture (p5), botany (p45), lectures (p53), Florence, Venice (1870, p7), schools (Egyptian, Oriental, Greek etc) (1870, p15), Denmark Hill (1871, p1), Brantwood (p67 and 165), Oxford (p139, 159), London – National Gallery, Turners (p157), Paris (p178), Chembery (p179), Genoa, Pisa (p180), Assisi (p181), Rome, Naples (p182), Palermo (p183), Rome (p189), and (at back) notes on stones, business, 1873, and accounts, 1874.

MS 17
1871
Egypt Arabia Hera Persia.
Buff cloth-linen. Index. pp1-41, inverse pp1-124 + 8 unnumbered + 14 leaves (heraldry) + pp140-151.
Discussions of Egypt (p4), the Turkish Empire (p82), Astrology (p118), Moses (p122), Heraldry (p127), Arabia (p144) and Rome (p152).

MS 18
1871-1873
Rome, Leaving Oxford.
Black morocco. 20cm. pp1-40 + ff41-132.
Discussions of ‘happy tour’ of Rome (p1), architecture (p34), last days at Denmark Hill (f41, 50), Oxford (f51), Genoa (f69), Sestri (f70), Pisa (f73), Florence (f80), Rome (f83), Siena (f87), Florence (f88), Verona, Venice (f89), Herne Hill (f91), Oxford (f99), Coniston (f101) and Brantwood (f106).

REEL 6

MS 19
1874, 1875
Black morocco with metal clasp. 23 x 19.5cm. pp1-147.
Discussions of Assisi (p1), Perugia (p12), Florence, Lucca (p15), Spezzia (p39), Geneva, Mont Blanc (p41), Chamouni (p42), St Martin’s (p44), Paris (p48), Herne Hill (p49), conversation with Carlyle (p51), Oxford (p53), Herne Hill (p63), Brantwood (p76), Bolton Abbey (p79), Carlyle (p94), Assisi (p101), schools of sculpture (p121), Arnolfo and Brunellesco (p130) and lecture on aesthetical and mathematical issues (p145). There is a reflective sadness in some of his writing:

“7th. Wednesday [October 1874]. Hotel de Mont Blanc. My father’s room. Probably I now sit here for the last time as nobody can keep the hotel, everyone passes.
A lovely morning. Seven o’clock. Sun just come in at window over faded Mont Blanc. The infinite sadness of it all, to me now. My poor father – mother – Ann – more with me – more lost to me, here, than ever yet. Mont Blanc itself dead ….” (p41)

MS 20
1875, 1876
Fors … Scott.
Vellum. 24cm. pp1-11 + inverse pp1-145.
Discussions of Arundel (p2), Aylesbury (p4), Oxford (p5), Warwick (p15), Wakefield (p16), Settle, Hawes (p17), Brantwood (p18), notes on Blue Psalter (p18), Settle (p37), Malham (p38), Brantwood (p41), Broadlands (p47), Cowley (p52), Abingdon (p58), Life of Moses (p66), subscriptions to St George’s (p100), Greek texts (p106), remission of sins (p111), Peterborough (p134), Grantham (p135), Newark (p136), Sheffield (p138), Pomfret (p138) and Knaresborough (p139). There are some fine descriptions:

“15th [May, 1875] Saturday. … into Arundel Park, where the chalk spring fills the dingle. With Drewitt [?] – too beautiful for a dream – the sense of the beauty of nature and the rightness of this old English household – entirely like a dream, after what I have been in the midst of.” (p2).

MS 21
Aug 1876 - Sep 1878, Jun 1880 - Dec 1880, Sep 1881 - Jan 1882
Travelling Diary.
Full vellum. 24cm. pp1-195 + 1-25.
Discussions of Dolgelly (p1), Aylesbury (p3), Paris (p5), Geneva (p6), Simplon (p8), Milan (p12), Venice (p18), Milan (p110), Simplon (p118), Paris (p125), Herne Hill (p127), Abbeville (p140), Amiens p142), Paris (p144), Chartres (p145), Canterbury (p149), Amiens (p151) and Herne Hill (p160).

REEL 7

MS 22
1877-1878
Myths … Botany.
Full vellum. 19.5 x 18cm. pp1-132 + blank.
Additional text running from back of volume.
Discussions of his first attempt to read a manuscript (p1), mythology (p37), Sisyphus (p49), Autolycus (p57), diary (p82), Oxford, Herne Hill, 16th century England, Scotland etc (p101), Hawarden (p107), Myrtle (p110), botany, roses (p123), and [from back] notes on the Guild of St George (4ff).

MS 23
Aug 1882 - Jan 1883
Half black morocco with brown linen. 18.4cm. pp1-147, 147-183 (end) + blank. Contains some flower studies.
Discussions of Calais (p1), Rheims (p5), Troyes (p7), Avallon (p10), Dijon (p21), Champagnole (p23), Geneva (p28), Sallenche (p31), Geneva (p40), Annecy (p42), Turin (p47), Genoa (p49), Pisa (p51), Lucca (p53), Florence (p60), Lucca (p67), Florence (p83), Lucca (p86), Pisa (p88), Annecy (p98), Talloires (p100), Annecy (p108), Geneva (p110), Dijon (p113), Paris (p114), Folkestone (p117) and home (p118).

REEL 8

MS 24
Jan 1884 - Dec 1884
Full black leather with clasp removed. 18.5 x 12.5cm. pp4-262 [pp1-3 missing].
Mostly at Brantwood. Discussions of the death of the Pope (p22), a bad pantomime (p46), Hereford (p52), dreams (p86), a nightmare (p180), verse (190), Oxford (p192), chess problems (p239) and accounts (p251).

MS 25
1885-1886
Black morocco. Sporadic entries.
1885: Jul 15-20; Oct 18; Dec 21-31.
1886: Jan 1-28; Feb 8-22; Mar 4-17; Apr 6-30; May 1-30; Jun 1-29; Jul 1; Aug 29; Sep 3-28; Oct 1-31; Nov 1-.
This diary constantly refers back to the past, and other diaries and letters. It seems to have been used for notes and reminiscences as he went through them.

MS 26
Jul 1888 - Sep 1888
Last tour abroad.
pp1-24.
Discussions of Beauvais (p1), Sallenches (p9), Chamouni (p15), Brieg (p20), Milan 18 and 23) and Venice (p24).

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