John Ruskin | Series of 6 autograph letters signed, to Rev. Stephen Bridge, 1846-65, and related material

John Ruskin

Series of six autograph letters signed, to Rev. Stephen Bridge

beginning with a lengthy letter providing detailed architectural criticism of the planned new church of St Matthew, Denmark Hill ("...an ogee curve - thought the base of all beautiful form in animals & vegetables - is a very rascally curve in architecture...") and the architect's misapprehension of the Gothic ("...it is no disgrace to an architect not to understand Gothic - Wren didn't - Barry doesn't...") with ten illustrative sketches, followed by a later letter recalling his "very impertinent letter about the design" and expressing his delight at the church itself ("...it is really a very great delight to me to see the pretty circular end of your church and its pierced pediments projecting from the row of ugly brick houses..."), the later letters including arrangements for Ruskin's lecture on "Work", organised by Bridge ("...I am preparing the thing chiefly for work-people - but I want some well-to-do people, to be scolded, occasionally..."), the final letter (possibly to a different correspondent) a withering response to a request for support ("...How came you to try authorship before learning to spell?..."), 16 pages, 4to and 8vo, Denmark Hill, 29 December 1846 to 20 July 1868 (where dated), with one autograph address wrapper and one autograph envelope

[with:] Arthur Severn, autograph letter signed, to "Mr Bridge", on a Ruskin memorial, 2 pages, 8vo, headed stationery of Brantwood, 5 December 1900

[also with:] Manuscript lecture, with corrections, headed in pencil "The Aim of Poetry an Inaugural lecture delivered at the Sheldonian Theatre Oxford 24th Oct 1877 (copied the above)", 4 pages, 4to 

"...I do love architecture very much - and I believe I enjoy more than most people when I enjoy a design at all: and suffer more than most when I do not..."

A SIGNIFICANT LETTER BY RUSKIN ON ARCHITECTURE. Ruskin made his home in Denmark Hill from 1842 to 1871, so the construction of a new church in the area, St Matthew's, was bound to be of significant interest. Ruskin's long letter to the minister expresses his apprehensions about the plans by the architect Alexander Gough (1804-71): 

"...I find myself reduced to the ungracious task of finding fault with the present design without being able to suggest any mode of arriving at a happier result - still, I feel so strongly that the large sum required for the completion of this floor plan will be miserably wasted - and that many who might be pleased by the drawing, would yet be disappointed by the church - that I cannot forbear giving you the reasons which at present seem to be - for your own consideration - and not as attaching any importance to my own feelings - but because I think that every person fond of architecture ought rather to express his opinion modestly before the church is built - than comfort himself with violence of opinion afterwards..."

His detailed criticisms contrast with his delight at finding the completed building to be "graceful and picturesque", which marks the beginning of a new warmth towards Bridge. The remaining letters mostly comprise typically solicitous comments of a prominent parishioner to his local minister except the last - which strikes a very different tone, and may have been sent to Bridge to pass on to the indigent correspondent (Bridge perhaps decided to pass on the 10 shillings but retain the exceptionally rude accompanying letter).

The manuscript lecture on poetry may have no connection to Ruskin and is not in his hand. The newly appointed Oxford Professor of Poetry in 1877 was John Campbell Shairp.