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A History of the World

One of The Ruskin Museum's treasures, the wax model or maquette for the memorial cross erected over Ruskin's grave, features as one of the first ten Cumbrian objects featured on the BBC's A History of the World: website www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld The History of the World is a unique partnership between the British Museum, the BBC and museums across the UK. It celebrates objects which have a story to tell. There is a special series for children, Relic:Guardians of the Museum, on BBC1 & CBBC. The Ruskin Memorial Cross was designed by WG Collingwood in the Norse style, featuring interlace patterns connecting a series of emblems that symbolise Ruskin's most important books. The East side of the cross covers Ruskin's early poetry and his great works on art - the five volumes of Modern Painters that established the reputations of Turner, the early Italian masters & Tintoretto - and architecture, The Seven Lamps of Architecture and The Stones of Venice. The West side features Ruskin's seminal works on moral values and a healthy society which influenced the Fabians and first Labour MPs. Collingwood was Ruskin's first biographer, kindred spirit and close confidant; he went on to found The Ruskin Museum (opened 1901) as Coniston's permanent memorial to it's most famous resident. The model is 18 ins high; the finished cross, carved from green Tilberthwaite slate by H.T Miles of Ulverston, towers 9ft above Ruskin's grave.