John Ruskin is primarily known and appreciated as a Victorian polymath who wielded huge influence during his lifetime as an art critic, social reformer, and writer.
He was a tireless champion of natural beauty and ethical craftsmanship. He looked at mountains and nature with the eye of an artist, a diligent and trained observer of the natural world.
Extraordinarily well-connected, and in regular contact with many leading figures of the time, Ruskin was controversial, opinionated, outspoken and always questioning. His ideas and influence are still keenly felt today.
If you are a mineralogist or mineral collector, the name John Ruskin will probably not chime with your mental list of historical mineral collectors. You may be surprised to learn, not only that he had a substantial, and very high-quality mineral collection, but that specimens from it are on display in the mineral gallery of the Natural History Museum in London.
On the other hand, if you are a Ruskin scholar or enthusiast you are probably aware that he collected minerals, but few of you will have any idea about the scale or stature of his collection.
In this book I hope that you will find both answers and inspiration to launch your own study of Ruskin and his minerals.
Key Features
- Much original research
- Many previously unpublished letters
- Unique insight to Ruskin’s mineralogical interests
- 170,000 words
- More than 500 images in full colour
- Around 370 large format pages (279 × 216 mm)
- Comprehensive index
- Fully referenced
- Section sewn, printed and case bound in the UK
Publication expected spring 2026 to coincide with the opening of a special exhibition at Brantwood.
The book will be of interest to Ruskin scholars, historians of mineralogy, mineralogists and mineral collectors alike.
Book structure and contents
- INTRODUCTION
- WHO WAS JOHN RUSKIN?
- MOUNTAINS AND THE ALPS
- BUILDING THE COLLECTION
- THE BRANTWOOD YEARS
- THE BRITISH MUSEUM (NATURAL HISTORY)
- THE COLENSO DIAMOND
- RUSKIN THE COLLECTOR
- MINERAL DEALERS AND CORRESPONDENTS
- THE GUILD OF ST GEORGE
- THE RUSKIN MUSEUM CONISTON
- OTHER COLLECTIONS
- AGATES
- MINERALOGICAL AND GEOLOGICAL PUBLICATIONS
- RUSKIN’S GEOLOGICAL AND MINERALOGICAL LEGACY
- WHERE NEXT?
- EPILOGUE
REFERENCES
INDEX
APPENDICES
Background
The story of how these wonders of nature became Ruskin’s sanctuary in times of stress and despair is both convoluted and fascinating.
He was intensely interested in the diversity of colour and form, of texture and associations to be found in the mineral world. Minerals occupied a central position in Ruskin’s everyday life.
Given the impact which his passion for the subject had on his thinking and outlook, it is surprising that no-one has tackled this subject previously.
Although alluded to in passing by many authors and commentators on Ruskin, mineralogy is an aspect of his life that has long been neglected and deserves to be brought centre-stage as part of his legacy. It is a hitherto untold story that is revealed in the pages of this book.
Become part of the story: SPECIAL ADVANCE SUBSCRIBER OPPORTUNITY!
I am pleased to offer the opportunity for advance subscribers to have their name recorded in the book for posterity.
An advance payment of £40 (the cover price of the book), payable via bank transfer, is required by 31 January.
For overseas subscribers ONLY I will accept payment via Paypal.
If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity, please email roy[AT]britishmineralogy.com and I will get back to you by return with bank details.
Shipping costs will be payable at a later date, once the book is available (expected to be late April) but I will liaise with people individually to minimise costs and explore opportunities for delivery via the collector network.
