John Ruskin (born 8^th February, 1819, London) was an art critic and a versatile artist, a friend of the famous English painter William Turner, and was himself a painter, as well as remembered for his literary and poetic works.

He was a teacher of Oscar Wilde and was admired by Tolstoy, Proust and Gandhi. He influenced the Arts and Crafts movements and is considered as an inspiration for Art Nouveau.

Ruskin was a particular character, a critic of the emerging industrial society; he had a deep love for art and craftsmanship, which he felt were being unacknowledged.

The exhibition John Ruskin: The Power of Seeing opened on the 26^th January, 2019 in London to mark the bicentenary of his birth, bringing together 190 of his most important works of art, including paintings, drawings and daguerreotypes.

(Images: Wikimedia commons, Two temple place, official site)