Lot 244: On Ruskin's Old Road between Morez and Les Rousses, Jura

William Gershom Collingwood (1854-1932)
On Ruskin's Old Road between Morez and Les Rousses, Jura
signed and dated 'WG Collingwood 1882' (lower left), signed, inscribed and dated 'On Ruskin's old road between Morez and les Rousses sketched with him [Ruskin] -- by W.G. Collingwood 1882' on a sheet attached to the reverse
watercolour on paper
8 3/8 x 6¾in. (21.3 x 17.2cm.)

PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION


In August 1882, 'Very much broken down, despairing of himself and his mission, he [Ruskin, with Collingwood, since 1881 his 'man-jack-of-all-trades', secretary, friend, biographer and artist] left London ...' for a change of air as recommended by Ruskin's doctor, through France to Northern Italy and back to Herne Hill in December. On 2 September, they left Dijon for the drive through the Jura mountains. From Morez, 'the road climbs by the side of the valley to the highest back of Jura at Les Rousses; the road [Ruskin said], walked most of the way, was mere enchantment'. At a halt Collingwood painted this watercolour, with Ruskin at his shoulder, 'when a break in the clouds gave sunbeams darting into the valley beneath, and wisps of white wreathed the steep forests'.

Ruskin, too, left a fine description of the scene: 'The raincloud clasps her cliffs, and floats along her fields; it passes, and in an hour the rocks are dry, and only beads of dew are left in the Alchemilla leaves -- but of rivulet or brook, no vestige, yesterday or to-day or to-morrow. Through unseen fissures and filmy crannies the waters of cliff and plain have alike vanished; only far down in the depth of the main valley glides the strong river, unconscious of the change'.