Ruskin never escaped his prudish ways or gave any indication of desiring to. After the death of J. M. W. Turner, in 1851, Ruskin was given the job of going through the works left to the nation by the great artist and found several watercolors of a cheerfully erotic nature. Horrified, Ruskin decided that they could only have been drawn "under a certain condition of insanity," and for the good of the nation destroyed almost all of them, robbing posterity of several priceless works.
John Ruskin, known for his prudish disposition, maintained his conservative views throughout his life. Following the death of the renowned artist J. M. W. Turner in 1851, Ruskin was tasked with examining the posthumous collection left to the public. Among these were several watercolors of a distinctly erotic nature, which deeply unsettled Ruskin.
Overcome by horror at the content, he attributed the works to a state of "insanity" and made the controversial decision to destroy nearly all of them. This act not only reflected his personal values but also deprived future generations of appreciating Turner's artistic legacy.
