Posted by kate crosby on December 10, 1998 at 16:29:56:
The January 1995 Architectural Digest ( yes, sorry, I always am a bit behind the times) has an article about the house, including the following;
Ruskin " began immediately to enlarge it, his very first addition being the small polygonal turret on what was then the southwest corner. Big enough only for a single comfortable chair and its occupant, it gave him uninterrupted vision to the north, south and west - up and down the lake, and across it to the Old Man of Coniston and the mountains beyond."
And later:"As he grew older and his mind slowly became clouded, he would spend more and more time sitting in his little turret, staring out across the lake at the mountains he loved."
In the house is " a particularly delightful picture by his friend WG. Collingwood of Ruskin working in his study..." So there was a direct link to Ruskin, through the Collingwood connection.
I visited Brantwood in the summer, but was reeling from jet shock and didn't do it justice, but the North Pole must surely be AR's private homage to Ruskin?