How did John Ruskin support Dante Gabriel Rossetti and the Pre-Raphaelite artists?

The art critic John Ruskin became a significant patron of Dante Gabriel Rossetti in 1854 and was a staunch public defender of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (PRB).12

Ruskin’s support for the movement was rooted in his admiration for the Gothic Middle Ages, which he viewed as an inspiring model for modern art. His advocacy included:2

• Public Defense: Ruskin published an enthusiastic pamphlet about the PRB in 1851 and wrote letters to the Times in 1851 and 1854 to protect the artists from harsh criticism.2
• Promotion: He recommended the work of the Pre-Raphaelites in his 1853 Edinburgh Lectures.2
• Patronage: By 1854, Ruskin had become a powerful and exacting patron of Rossetti, providing essential financial and professional support to the artist.1

Through these efforts, Ruskin helped validate the Pre-Raphaelite rejection of contemporary Neoclassical art school standards, championing their focus on nature and medievalist themes.2