Cook and Wedderburn draw attention here to Ruskin 's reference to the modern German art as 'the school of mud' in a letter to E. S. Dallas ( Works, 3.351) (see also Ruskin and modern German art). This letter of 'circa 1860' reads as follows:
The Germans likewise excel us far (in all instances that I have seen) in this school of elaborate figure painting on glass. The whole school is false and ridiculous -- but our fallacies are the foolishest. It will be some time, of course before the school of mud--in general--Winterhalter and Modern German sentimental glass, is got rid of, and you must trim sail a little between parties...
I scratched out Ary Scheffer's name because, though one of the heads of the Mud sentiment school, he does draw and feel very beautifully and deeply--and doesn't deserve to be classed with the German window painters: or with the dim blockhead Winterhalter ( Works, 36.336).
(Ary Scheffer (1795-1858) was born in Holland and worked mainly in France. His work was seen, however, to show German influences. He trained with Gericault and Delacroix.)