John Ruskin and Brantwood

Take a handful of rubble from the roadside and pick out a small stone. When examined closely it will be found to be a mountain in miniature. -John Ruskin

Looking back on the entire trip, there were so many memorable moments. But my favorite class trip was when we went to John Ruksin's home, Brantwood. I still don't know what exactly struck me, but since Monday, I haven't been able to get him out of my head. Maybe it's because his quotes inspire me or his house was built the way I want the house I live in to be built. It reminded me of Rydal Mont but at the same time, was a step above. Whatever the reason is, this trip to Coniston has inspired me and many of Ruskin's books are on my summer reading list.

John Ruskin was an influential art critic of the Victorian era. He looked to Nature as the source of truth. He believed that Nature could provide us with all the answers we needed.

He was born in 1819 to a wealthy house. Educated at Oxford, he was particularly skilled at poetry. He bought Brantwood and sixteen acres when he was 55 for a sum of £1500. Ruskin had never been to Brantwood before but he had been on Coniston Water when he was a boy and this landscape had stuck with him.

When he purchased Brantwood, the house was falling apart. Ruskin immediately called for repairs and additions, such as the turret room that looks out onto the lake. While these repairs were being made, he invited his friends to travel to Venice with him. Quite a life, right?

When he returned, he moved in along with some of his relatives: his cousin Joan Severn and her husband, Arthur. The Severns would live in Brantwood for the next sixty years. Much improvement and additions happened to Brantwood in Ruskin's lifetime. The gardens became extensive, being cared for by a gardener Ruskin had brought with him and Joan. More rooms were added to account for more furniture as well as more Severns as they were born. What I love most about the house are the large bay windows with a view of the gardens in front of the house and of Coniston Water. Just the way the light streams in and illuminates the space. The turret room is by far the best example of this. It's literally an extension from the house made out of wood. The windows basically go from ceiling to floor and all the light comes in. It's just large enough for a chair and if I had a turret room, I would do all the reading and writing in it. And with the view Ruskin had, he would have all the inspiration from Nature that he needed.

Unfortunately, due to illness and going a bit mad, Ruskin died in 1900. He gave the house to the Severn family, requesting that the house be open for 30 consecutive days each year for visitors to experience the magic he had found at Brantwood. The family did not respect this request; guidebooks at the time actually declare that the house is not open to visitors to the area. The Severn family was also strapped for money and decided to sell of various items Ruskin had acquired over the years, such as ancient manuscripts and furniture from Ruskin's parents.

The house was finally purchased by people who wanted to preserve the legacy that Ruskin had created. They slowly bought back items most treasured by Ruskin and attempted to put the house back to when Ruskin lived there. It's now open to visitors to explore and appreciate.

I gathered this information from a book I purchased at the house called Brantwood: The Story of John Ruskin's Constion home by James S. Dearden.