John Ruskin (1819～1900)
‘There is no wealth but life’

He was the Prophet of the Nineteenth Century in England, born in rich wine importer of London-Scottish ancestry in London. He entered as a gentleman commoner at Christ Church, Oxford, where he obtained the Newdigate Prize in 1839.After graduating the College, he wrote a praising and defending book ‘Modern Painters’ in J.M.W. Turner's defence against public criticizing and condemning. He championed the Pre-Raphaelites and introduced the English to the early Italian painters such as Tintoretto. He warned against atmospheric pollution, proposed the National Trust, and advocated free schools and libraries. Also, he advocated education of the working man, and was benefactor and tutor in Working Men's Colleges. He showed by example the benefits of fair rents and security of tenure. He established the Guild of St. George and Museum in Sheffield, and became Slade Professor of Fine Art at Oxford.

William Morris (1834～1896)
‘A man must have time for serious individual thought, for imagination, for dreaming even, or the race of men will inevitably worsen.’

He was against the materialism and ugliness of Victorian England, considered to be the founder of modern design.He was born, as a son of a successful businessman, at Walthamstow, a suburban village on the edge of Epping Forest, eastern area of London. He studied at Oxford, where he met Burn-Jones, Dante Gabriel Rossetti. He was influenced by John Ruskin, had the love for the Gothic style and nostalgic enthusiasm for the craftsmanship of the middle-ages, which in his opinion, was free from the corrupting influence of capitalism and mass-production.

Short History
In terms of Norio Tsuyuki's everlasting concerns, he has long been interested in John Ruskin, a Victorian art critic, social reformer, natural environment conservationist, and his disciple, William Morris, art designer, poet, old buildings conservationist. Therefore, their thoughts and practices have made him visit Britain several times to investigate places with them. These collections are the results of his interests and research.

Autograph letters, manuscripts, and transcripts
There are around 100 autograph letters signed of John Ruskin, 1 autograph letter signed of John James Ruskin, his father, 25 autograph letters signed of William Morris, and 18 letters and lecture drafts of J.Howard Whitehouse(mostly unpublished).Manuscripts of the preface of ‘LECTURES ON ART’ and others are stored.

John Ruskin (List of Autograph Letters)>>in detail

William Morris (List of Autograph Letters)>>in detail

John James Ruskin, J. Howard Whitehouse, Margaret Ruskin

Books
John Ruskin
In addition to around 750 books by and about John Ruskin in English　(contain a collected edition of 39 volumes) and Japanese, there are many rare books, such as the first edition of Modern Painters, proofed book of LECTURES ON ART(FOURTH EDITION, 1887), QUEENS' GARDENS and KINGS' TREASURES at Ballantyne Press, Ruskin's annotations copy of The Tourist in SPAIN AND MOROCCO by Thomas Roscoe and QVINTI HORATII FLACCI (opera) by I.M.GESNERI, Ruskin's copy of Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, Poems by Alfred Tennyson, and so on.

William Morris(List of Kelmscott Press)>>in detail

230 books by and about William Morris in English (contain a collected edition of 24 volumes, William Morris, Artist writer Socialist by May Morris, THE ART OF WILLIAM MORRIS, A RECORD BY AYMER VALANCE) and Japanese, 26 sets of KELMSCOTT PRESS and rare books.

Watrecolour
John Ruskin
There are two watercolours, a mountain chapel and a landscape of Chauffausen in Switzerland, formerly belonged Sara Anderson, Ruskin's secretary, to whom they are probably gifted.

Portraits
John Ruskin
Photograph by Barraud, (263, Oxford Street, London).

printed portrait
William Morris

Illustrated portraits.
John Ruskin

Bust
John Ruskin
The parian ware(a sort of white porcelain), produced by Robinson and Leaderbetter about 1882～1887.

Slides
May Morris
Four boxes of slides, used as illustrations for May Morris's (1862～1938)lectures to the Women's
Guild of Arts.
Costumes 36, Patterns 31, Pageants 34, Morris Design 32