Ruskin Monument

The Ruskin Monument is a memorial in Keswick that features a bronze profile of art critic John Ruskin set into a solid block of Borrowdale stone. The work sits at Friars Crag, a promontory on Derwentwater that overlooks the lake and surrounding hills.

The monument was unveiled in 1900 through the efforts of Hardwicke Rawnsley, who sought to honor the influential art critic. The creation coincided with a period when Ruskin's ideas about landscape preservation and art theory held significant influence in England.

The inscriptions on the monument reference Ruskin's ideas about art and nature from his writings. The Chi-Rho symbol reflects his connection to spiritual and artistic values.

The monument sits at a popular viewpoint that is reachable on foot from Keswick town center. The path runs along the lakeshore and is relatively flat, making it easy to visit without strenuous effort.

The lettering on the stone uses dots and dashes instead of conventional letters, designed to match Ruskin's own drawing technique. This choice by designer W G Collingwood was a way to reflect the art critic's artistic legacy through the inscription itself.

Location: Keswick

Inception: 1900

Creator: Andrea Carlo Lucchesi

GPS coordinates: 54.59037,-3.14081

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:08