Julie Lawson

Please describe yourself and your areas of interest.

I was an undergraduate at The University of Cambridge in the 1970s reading English. My tutor suggested that I write a dissertation on Ruskin’s ‘Praeterita’ for the Part I Tripos. This was my introduction to John Ruskin and it inspired a significant change of direction, as I decided to read Art History for my Part II Tripos. I remained at Cambridge for a fourth year in order to do so, and continued my studies as a post graduate at the Courtauld Institute. I have enjoyed a long career as a curator at the National Galleries of Scotland, from 1984 until 2024.

Why did you become a Companion of the Guild?

My enthusiasm for Ruskin has never abated and, though not my area of professional expertise, I sought opportunities over the years to bring Ruskin to the attention of the general public, curating two Ruskin related exhibitions and contributing to publications on Ruskin and Venice, and Ruskin and Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford. As part of the Ruskin celebrations of 2000 I invited the actor and historian Paul O’Keeffe to present a re-enactment of Ruskin’s 1853 Edinburgh Lectures. This remarkable performance became an annual event at the National Galleries of Scotland as part of the Edinburgh Festival for more than a decade. Paul also gave these lectures further afield to great acclaim. Through this, we have introduced many people to Ruskin and, I hope, played a small part in keeping the flame alive - which I know is such an important aim of the Guild of St George.