Ralph Nicholson Wornum

Having studied at University College London in 1832, he gave up plans to read for the bar, and attended the studio of Henry Sass.

[1] Among his topics was Islamic design, and he suggested that his students should visit Owen Jones's reconstruction of the Alhambra at the Sydenham Crystal Palace.

[1] A reorganisation created the Department of Practical Art, and Henry Cole sent Wornum on a fact-finding mission to France.

In 1860−1 Wornum was chiefly instrumental in getting the Turner collection, which had been banished first to Marlborough House, and then to South Kensington (1856–60), restored to its place in the National Gallery, in accordance with the terms of the artist's bequest.

[5] Wornum's energies were devoted to improvement and development, and he deprecated the separation of the pictures by British artists from those by foreigners.

[1] He died at his residence, 20 Belsize Square, South Hampstead, on 15 December 1877, leaving a widow and a large family.

During 1861 he edited, in a sumptuous folio, with memoir and notes, The Turner Gallery, forming a series of sixty engravings.