Ruskin, John: The elements of drawing: in three letters to beginners (London, 1857)

letter ii.] sketching FROM nature. 193

there are one or two things to be said on composition
which, may set the young artist's mind somewhat
more at rest, or furnish him with defence from the
urgency of ill-advisers, I will glance over the main
heads of the matter here; trusting that my doing so
may not beguile you, my dear reader, from your
serious work, or lead you to think me, in occupying
part of this book with talk not altogether relevant
to it, less entirely or

Faithfully yours,

J. Kuskin.