Rocks and Ferns in a Wood at Crossmount 1847

John Ruskin made this watercolor titled, *Rocks and Ferns in a Wood at Crossmount*. Ruskin was an eminent art critic during the Victorian era, who championed the Pre-Raphaelites. But he was also a deeply conflicted man, torn between his aesthetic sensibilities and his era’s social and industrial transformations. In this work, Ruskin eschews traditional landscape painting, which often served as a romanticized and idealized vision of nature, for a focus on minute details. Here, the ferns and rocks aren't just elements of a backdrop but become the very subjects of the painting. Ruskin had a deep emotional connection to the natural world, seeing it as a source of moral and spiritual truth. He was also wary of the industrial revolution. Ruskin sought truth and authenticity in the world around him, and reminds us of the importance of preserving and appreciating the beauty of nature, as well as the relationship between art, society, and the environment.