On the Old Road, Vol. 2 (of 2) A Collection of Miscellaneous Essays and Articles on Art and Literature

"On the Old Road, Vol. 2" by John Ruskin, is a compilation of essays concerning art and literature from the late 1800s. This volume contains Ruskin's thoughts and observations on various aspects of art institutions, with a primary focus on the National Gallery, and offers profound understandings of how art, education, and cultural growth relate to one another. The work addresses the presentation of art collections, the purpose of galleries, and making art accessible to everyone. The volume starts with Ruskin's testimony before a commission that was studying the National Gallery, where he talks about the best ways to display art. He supports blending painting and sculpture to improve how people understand and enjoy them, and believes these art forms should be experienced one after the other, rather than at the same time, in the same space. Ruskin insists that art should be displayed at eye level so that everyone can see and appreciate it and states his belief in the important educational role that art institutions play for all people, especially those who work hard for a living. His writings explain how art is not just pretty to look at, but also important for personal and societal improvement.