Dawn at Neuchâtel

1834–1900 · Workplace

Great Britain

from 1864

Charitable ventures funded by his father's legacy

One of Ruskin's first actions is to support the housing work of Octavia Hill, originally one of his art pupils: he buys property in Marylebone. He also sets up a shop at 29 Paddington Street selling pure tea, giving employment to two former Ruskin family servants, and pays for crossing-sweepers to keep the area around the British Museum clean and tidy.

3 March 1864

His father's death and a considerable inheritance

On 3 March 1864 his father, John James Ruskin, dies; the son inherits an estate worth between £120,000 and £157,000 (the exact figure is disputed), which gives him the means for personal philanthropy and practical schemes of social amelioration. On the tombstone he describes his father as an entirely honest merchant.

April 1864

Bradford: a lecture on taste and morality

Invited because of a local debate about the style of a new Exchange building, Ruskin delivers his widely admired lecture “Traffic”, on the relation between taste and morality, at Bradford Town Hall, telling his audience he does not care about this Exchange because they do not. Together with the lectures “Work” and “War” it will be published in “The Crown of Wild Olive” (1866).

December 1864

The “Sesame and Lilies” lectures in the town halls

In December 1864 at the town halls of Rusholme and Manchester Ruskin delivers the lectures “Of Kings' Treasuries” (for a library fund, on reading and the value of books) and “Of Queens' Gardens” (for a school fund, on women's rights and duties in education). Published in 1865 as “Sesame and Lilies”, they become one of his most popular books and are regularly awarded as Sunday School prizes.

1866–1872

A proposal to Rose La Touche and a final refusal

Eight years after they meet, in 1866, Ruskin proposes to Rose La Touche, but in 1872 he receives a final refusal from her parents.