In partnership with Brantwood. Curated by Professor Sandra Kemp, The Ruskin, and Howard Hull, Brantwood.
Ruskin was one of the largest private collectors of minerals in 19th Century and gave invaluable collections to public institutions, schools and universities. With loans of remarkable specimens, Treasures of the Earth coincides with the publication of 'The Mineral World of John Ruskin' by Roy Starkey.

This fifth exhibition in the series ‘John Ruskin in the Age of Science’ explores the technical and philosophical challenges presented by Ruskin's shell studies from The Ruskin Whitehouse Collection, Lancaster University, the Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, alongside his shell collection at Brantwood, where his original shell cabinets remain in the drawing room.

This exhibition highlighted the decisive role that Normandy played in the beginnings of photography. Exploring the interrelations of photography & painting, the exhibition showed works by Ruskin alongside paintings by Monet for the first time, including daguerreotypes of the cathedral of Notre Dame in Rouen. The exhibition was part of the Festival of Paris and Normandy Impressionists which celebrated 150 years since the emergence of the movement and the pivotal role played by the region in shapi

This exhibition explored how visual representations of Italy developed - from 15th century woodcuts to 19th-century photography, including works by Ruskin. It highlights how book illustrators and photographers saw Italy, and how their work provided an impression of the country for British and European audiences.

This fourth exhibition in the series ‘John Ruskin in the age of sciences continued the exploration of observation and evidence in Ruskin’s works, focussing on his wide range of expressive techniques, from meticulous photo-realism to rapid sketches in graphite and watercolour. Ruskin's art asks us to question not only the art of sight, but also the nature of vision itself.

This third exhibition in the series ‘John Ruskin in the Age of Science’ explored observation and evidence in Ruskin’s works, alongside his scientific contemporaries. Ruskin cultivated what he called ‘the instrument of sight’ and exploited developments in optical technologies to explore the world with extreme visual clarity. Throughout his career Ruskin continued to extend the uses of science to art, and art to science.

This second exhibition in the series ‘John Ruskin in the Age of Science’ explored how mathematics was at the centre of John Ruskin's art. Fascinated by form, pattern, proportion and symmetry in the world around us, Ruskin believed that mathematical knowledge underpinned both the technical proficiency and the 'analytical power' needed to compose and to look at a work of art.

This exhibition was the first in the series ‘John Ruskin in the Age of Science’. John Ruskin (1819-1900) lived in an era of rapid scientific progress that shaped modern Britain. Curated by Sandra Kemp (The Ruskin), with Keith Moore (the Royal Society) and Howard Hull (Brantwood). These exhibitions placed Ruskin alongside his nineteenth century scientific contemporaries, exploring his influence on science and society, in his time and our own.

This exhibition explored the relevance of Ruskin's thinking today. Inviting us to look closely, see clearly and imagine freely, his works take us into the nature of seeing and into the multidimensional nature of knowledge itself. Parables and places for imaginative encounters, they reflect our relationship, both modest and magnificent, to the world in which we live.

To mark the 200th birthday of John Ruskin, Sheffield Millennium Gallery presents ‘Art and Wonder’. Ruskin was known for his art criticism and writing on architecture and social theory however ‘Art and Wonder’ aims to equally highlight his lesser appreciated thinking on science and natural history.

This exhibition, illustrates how Ruskin’s attitude to aesthetic beauty shaped his radical views on culture and society. The exhibition features significant loans from The Ruskin Whitehouse Collection. The exhibition marks the bicentenary of Ruskin’s birth, and brings together a range of works by Ruskin, including drawings, paintings, daguerreotypes, and plaster casts.

This exhibition ‘John Ruskin, the Stones of Venice’, curated by Anna Ottani Cavina, was the first dedicated to John Ruskin located in Venice, Italy. The exhibition is located in the Loggia of the Doge’s Palace. Ruskin visited Venice many times during his life and recorded its buildings through writing, drawing, painting, and photography.

This exhibition showcases the works of Andrew Wyeth (1917–2009) and John Ruskin (1819–1900). Although they lived in different countries and time periods, both artists recorded the natural world around them in detail within the setting of social and environmental change. For Wyeth, the Depression and the Second World War were major events during his lifetime, whilst Ruskin lived through the Industrial Revolution.

John Ruskin's drawings and watercolours from his travels 'on home ground' in England and Scotland.

This vivid exhibition explored the exciting tour of Italy and France that John Ruskin experienced as a going-on-21-year-old.

An exhibition of 'favourite things' from the Whitehouse Collection.

This exhibition told the story of Venice and its beauty, through highlights of John Ruskin’s ‘The Stones of Venice’ and modern photographs by Sarah Quill.

The magic of mountain landscapes, as captured by John Ruskin.

Still life – the arrangement of objects, especially flowers and fruit, in a careful composition – is an overlooked category of art, yet it has always been popular and remains so to this day.

A comprehensive display of the work of Victorian artists, famous and obscure, who assisted John Ruskin at different times throughout his life.

A selection of landscape and architectural drawings made by John Ruskin throughout his lifetime.

Celebrating the return of items lent to the 'John Ruskin: Artist and Observer' exhibition, held in Ottawa and Edinburgh.

'Permanence and Fragility' was an exhibition of paintings and drawings of Venice and nature. Pieces by Victoria Crowe were displayed alongside studies by John Ruskin to show the striking similarities between their work and subject focuses, despite the two artists living over a century apart.

On 2 June 1835, John Ruskin and his family set off on a continental tour which would last until December. Fifty years later, Ruskin described parts of the tour in the autobiographical Praeterita, emphasising its significance as his first visit to places which later became so important to him. As well as producing a vast number of sketches, he kept a diary of his travels, which concentrated on geology - one of his lifelong passions.

A loan exhibition from the Watts Gallery, showcasing works by the great Victorian painter and sculptor George Frederic Watts (1817-1904).

Continuing our successful ‘natural world’ exhibitions, such as ‘Ruskin’s Flora’ (2011) and ‘Sketching from Nature’ (2008), we returned once again to this rich and wonderful theme.

This exhibition explored 'ethical consumerism', as taught by John Ruskin in reaction to the 'ugliness' he saw in Victorian times.

Looking through the lens at great Italian architecture, in Venice and Verona.

Exploring how John Ruskin, in his approach to art, nature and even wider social concerns, often appeared to consider the 'sacredness' of things.

This exhibition was held to celebrate the centenary of the completion of Ruskin’s Library Edition.

'Beautiful Effects': Ruskin's Daguerreotypes of Switzerland. Looking through the lens at great Swiss landscape and architecture...

Beautiful botanical drawings, paintings and literature by John Ruskin.

This display of 40 studies and finished drawings by Lord Leighton was a continuation of an exhibition touring various museums and galleries in the UK. Here, it was complemented by some of John Ruskin’s drawings.

Looking through the lens at the great landscape and architecture of northern France.

This exhibition explored artist and collector David Walker Barker's fascination with geology and landscape, through pieces of his artwork and items from his personal collections.

Celebrating the 150th anniversary of John Ruskin completing the final volume of Modern Painters, one of his greatest literary works.

Looking through the lens at great Tuscan landscape and architecture.

Exploring the city through the eyes of John Ruskin, with images from our Whitehouse Collection.

This exhibition was an exquisite display of images of flora, produced by ecological artist Alex Hamilton during his residency at Brantwood.

An eclectic mix of 'favourite things' from the Whitehouse Collection: drawings, manuscripts and more. The Museum staff chose their favourite things from the collection and together created an exciting exhibition - a ‘Summer Miscellany’.

This remarkable photographic exhibition was one for enthusiasts of the Victorian era – with a focus on the people who made this period great.

This exhibition explored John Ruskin’s fascination with the work of the Old Masters, with a focus on Italian Renaissance painters.

An exhibition showcasing some of the natural history books from the Hesketh collection, which were loaned to Lancaster University Library by the Trustees of the second Baron Hesketh’s Will Trust.

This exhibition explored the European adventures of John Ruskin on his many tours across the continent throughout his lifetime.

An exhibition of drawings by children from Garstang Community Primary School, alongside works by Ruskin and his students.

Reactions and responses to the Greek myth of Persephone, by John Ruskin and others. Gallery 1 was curated to offer a variety of artistic responses to the Persephone myth, promoting its different aspects and interpretations. Gallery 2 showed Ruskin’s ideas of Persephone (or Proserpina) through various examples of his work.

A scenic showcase of George Rowlett’s painted landscapes, inspired by the travels and work of John Ruskin.

Publishers are occasionally the subject of books, but rarely of exhibitions. This exhibition commemorated the centenary of the death of George Allen, a man who rose from humble beginnings to create a publishing house under the encouragement of John Ruskin.

This display brought together depictions of sculpture from drawings in the Whitehouse Collection.

This exhibition showcased items from the Hesketh Collection, deposited on loan in the University Library.

A majestic showcase of items from the Southwark Collection, with outstanding paintings and drawings by celebrated Victorian artists.

This landscape-themed exhibition was curated by four students from LICA (Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts) at Lancaster University.

An enchanting display of recently conserved works by John Ruskin, with a focus on daguerreotype photographs.

Exploring ‘savageness’, ‘naturalism’ and ‘changefulness’ within the work of John Ruskin and beyond.

This exhibition celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the death of John Howard Whitehouse - politician, author, educationalist and lifelong supporter of John Ruskin’s work.

This exhibition explored John Ruskin’s love for the city of Verona and its architecture.

An exhibition of ‘Chris Orr's John Ruskin’ (1972), a set of ten etchings, alongside related works and other prints and drawings by the artist.

This exhibition showed the results of the conservation work on the Museum's Whitehouse Collection, including details of the fascinating process of paper conservation, and of the many discoveries made during the work.

This exhibition tracked the journeys of John Ruskin and his parents through the Lakes in 1837 and 1838, when they extended their normal route into Scotland to explore the country of Sir Walter Scott. 'Ruskin’s Romantic Tours, 1837-1838' displayed a collection of drawings by a teenage John Ruskin, from both of these tours. It also featured works by Samuel Prout and J.M.W. Turner.

Exploring John Ruskin’s relationship with and appreciation of printmaking as an art form.

This exhibition, drawn entirely from our Whitehouse Collection, comprised works of his close friends, pupils and protégés.

This exhibition gathered together a wealth of material which reflected the scope of Ruskin's interest in northern France. It displayed not only items from the Museum's Whitehouse Collection of Ruskin’s work but also items loaned by Museums Sheffield's Ruskin Collection and private collectors.

Julie Roberts is one of the successful generation of artists to emerge from Glasgow School of Art in the 1980s,. Works newly made for this exhibition included Dear John, a suite of portraits of Ruskin, Millais, and Effie Ruskin/Millais.

Whilst John Ruskin's writings often reference the practice and principles of good craftsmanship, he also made the common differentiation between the 'fine arts' and the 'lower arts of iron-work, pottery, decorative sculpture, and such like'. This exhibition included many examples of crafts influenced by Ruskin.

A special two-part exhibition, featuring works by John Ruskin that came of his visits to Switzerland.

With pictures by American artist David-Everett Blythe. This display focused on John Ruskin's engagement in the teaching of what he called “the practice of drawing”.

John Riddy was invited by the Ruskin School of Art to produce a new body of work to celebrate the centenary of the death of John Ruskin in 2000. These photographs show the places, spaces and objects that helped Ruskin make sense of the world around him.

In celebration of the centenary of John Ruskin's death, this touring exhibition brought together nearly one hundred images of this great man.

A two-part exhibition featuring some of the most famous items in the Whitehouse Collection. 'Treasures of the Ruskin Library' focused on some of the most interesting, as well as representative, items in the Whitehouse Collection.

Exploring John Ruskin’s experience of Venice through its history, art and architecture.

This exhibition explored John Ruskin’s inspiration for drawing, painting and writing about nature in his five-volume work ‘Modern Painters’.

This exhibition contained an exciting combination of work and correspondence by Ruskin and both amateur and professional women artists in his circle. The display included the work of Kate Greenway and Emily Warren, the copyist Isabella Jay and many examples of work by other friends, family and acquaintances.

An exhibition of drawings and studies made by John Ruskin during his many visits to Italy.

Through art and writings, this exhibition told the story of John Ruskin’s undying love for the Lake District.