Clive Wilmer leads Ruskin bicentenary celebrations

John Ruskin, born 8 February 1819, was a polymath inspired by social justice and a desire to make England a happier and more beautiful place in which to live and work. For this purpose Ruskin established the Guild of St George in the 1870s, and he gave the Guild a substantial art collection for the benefit and education of the working people of Sheffield. The Guild still thrives to this day. 

To mark the bicentenary of Ruskin's birth, an exhibition will open from the 26 January at 2 Temple Place in London to bring together more than 190 paintings, drawings, daguerreotypes, metal works, and plaster casts, most of them selected from the Sheffield collection. You can read more about the exhibition on the Guild of St George website.

Clive will be giving the address at a service of thanksgiving for Ruskin at St George's (Anglican) Church in Venice on February 3rd. The service will be a tribute to Ruskin by the Mayor of Venice and the Scuola Grande di San Rocco.

Clive will also be speaking on Ruskin in the Sidney Greats series (Tuesday 5 February).