John Ruskin, A view of a church within a mountainous landscape, w/c, unframed

This drawing of a church in Italy displays the influence of Samuel Prout on the young Ruskin.  Within a year Ruskin went to Oxford as a 'gentleman commoner' and he was recognised there as a fine artist whose albums of drawings like this were shown to distinguished visitors.  Although just 17 he was also champion of J.M.W Turner, and this drawing was made just three days before Ruskin's essay made in response to Blackwood Magazine's adverse comments in its review of Turner's painting Juliet and her Nurse.  Ruskin described himself at 'the height of black anger' having read Blackwood.