Rose La Touche

Rose La Touche (1848-1875) was a young Irish girl who became the subject of fascination for the Victorian art critic John Ruskin, who viewed her as his 'muse.' Born into a banking family in County Kildare, she was introduced to Ruskin by her mother for educational purposes. Their relationship evolved over the years, with Ruskin reportedly proposing to her when she was 18, but La Touche declined, possibly due to health issues, including anorexia. She died at the young age of 27, and her tragic story is often cited as a critical factor in Ruskin's later struggles with mental health.