John Ruskin e le “Cattedrali della Terra”: le montagne come monumento

John Ruskin frequented the Alps throughout all his life and wrote many works on mountains, giving a relevant contribution to the interest developed with the Grand Tour and the discovery of glaciers already since the 18th century. His definition of mountains as “cathedrals of the earth” effectively indicates the magnificence, but also the perception of mountains seen as a natural monument – hence the need for protection. Ruskin's attention reveals a sensitivity that goes beyond the Romantic feeling for landscape, expressing very modern concepts on the defence of the mountain environment; he told with singular premonition about the risks caused by tourism. Moreover, in his writings a special link appears between mountains attraction and his way of seeing art and architecture: Ruskin meticulously observed forms, structures, materials, degradation. He studied the geological formations as “constructions” and represented them in drawings, paintings and suggestive literary descriptions. Mountains become with Ruskin a veritable “monument” to be safeguarded, so much so he explicitly dedicated to them some of his lessons at Oxford University.