In 1875 Ruskin made a sketch of Rose La Touche on her deathbed. Rose had been ill for some time and died on May 15, 1875 in a nursing home in Ireland. Since Ruskin was not at her actual deathbed, the sketch was likely made at the time of his last visit with her, about three months before her death. Ruskin was devastated by her loss; their relationship had long been difficult and her final months, during which she suffered from both physical and mental illness, particularly so. Rose became for Ruskin a potent and persistent presence, subsumed into his work and dreams.
The panel discussion on Rose, Ruskin, and the deathbed sketch will include Philip Hoare, British painter George Shaw (nominated for the Turner Prize in 2011), French illustrator and artist Valentine Cuny-Le Callet, and Sara Atwood. The idea for this panel arose out of a discussion between the four of us, initiated by Valentine, who is studying deathbed portraits as part of an ongoing project. She is intrigued by Ruskin's portrait of Rose, especially as it is so unlike the rest of his paintings and drawings in style and tone. She even wonders whether this portrait, discovered fairly recently (2005) is Ruskin's work and, if it really is, under what conditions it was made. Our discussion will consider the relationship between Ruskin and Rose and its lasting impact on his life and work; scholarly commentary on Ruskin and Rose; the status of Ruskin's deathbed portrait of her; the role of deathbed portraits and photographs more broadly in Victorian culture; Valentine's project, which includes a special focus on the Rose portrait.