In the picturesque village of Chamonix, at the foot of the Brévent, a trail leads to the John Ruskin Memorial Stone (1819–1900) by the French sculptor of Polish origin, Michel de Tarnowsky (1870–1946). The monument commemorates one of Britain’s most significant artists, writers, art critics, social reformers and ecological thinkers, who also entered history as a celebrant of the nature of Chamonix.

Description of the object

A bronze medallion, 75 cm in diameter, depicts John Ruskin in maturity, with flowing hair, gazing into the distance, shown in a three-quarter view and set into a glacial boulder.

Along the left edge of the cast runs an embossed inscription identifying the figure unmistakably: “JOHN RUSKIN”; on the right, beginning at Ruskin’s line of sight, appears the engraved inscription: “Ce monument / offert par les admirateurs de RUSKIN, / à la Ville de CHAMONIX / a été inauguré le 19/7/1925 / sous la présidence de / Mr Lavraire, Maire, assisté de / Mr Payot, Recteur de l’Université / et de Mr H. de Noussanne” (“This monument / donated by the admirers of RUSKIN / to the city of CHAMONIX / was inaugurated on 19 July 1925 / under the presidency of Mr Lavraire, Mayor of Chamonix, assisted by Mr Payot, Rector of the University, and Mr H. de Noussanne”).

At the bottom of the medallion, beneath Ruskin’s bust, the cast bears the engraved signature: “M. de Tarnowsky”.

The Memory of the Stone, or the Importance of Place in Ruskin’s Story

The stone, which became the basis for Tarnowsky’s design, had itself been a landmark for Ruskin: a vantage point from which he studied the terrain, contemplated the landscape, and observed the surrounding nature framed by the mountain peaks. It was from here, during his first visit to Chamonix in 1833, that Ruskin admired the sunsets over the Aiguilles (then still unobstructed by dense forest), as well as the local wildlife that later featured in his literary descriptions.

History of the Creation of the Monument

The monument was officially unveiled on 19 July 1925. It was commissioned at the initiative of admirers of Ruskin’s literary, artistic and critical legacy: the writer Jules Payot, a committee of Ruskin’s friends, and the journalist, writer and publisher Henri de Noussanne. The monument’s creation and its inauguration were widely reported in both the local and national press, including “Le Figaro”. In the issue of 21 July 1925, the newspaper reported:

“Dimanche, à l’hôtel de ville de Chamonix, a eu lieu sous la présidence du préfet de la Haute-Savoie et de M. Lavaivre, maire de Chamonix, l’inauguration du médaillon commémoratif de John Ruskin. Au cours de cette cérémonie, M. Jules Payot, ancien recteur de l’Académie d’Aix, a prononcé un discours. M. Henri de Noussanne a fait une brillante causerie. Le médaillon est l’œuvre du sculpteur de Tarnowsky.” (“On Sunday, at the town hall of Chamonix, the inauguration of the John Ruskin commemorative medallion took place under the presidency of the prefect of Haute-Savoie and Mr Lavaivre, Mayor of Chamonix. During the ceremony, Jules Payot, former Rector of the Académie d’Aix, delivered an address, and Henri de Noussanne gave a brilliant talk. The medallion is the work of the sculptor de Tarnowsky.”)

Notably, the Polish pianist, composer, and former Prime Minister Ignacy Jan Paderewski was present at the ceremony.