Harding must have noted that he was second to Turner in Ruskin 's mind and in a footnote in his Principles and Practice of Art published in 1845 noted that in Modern Painters 'In endeavouring to award Turner the pre-eminent commendation so justly due to his talent, it is to be regretted that the writers's admiration should partake so much of the nature of adoration' (see Harding, The Principles and Practice of Art, p 65). Cook and Wedderburn note:
With this passage should be read The Elements of Drawing (1857)... where, though Ruskin reaffirms his praise of Harding's tree-drawing, he makes some qualifications ( Works, 3.578)
(For Ruskin's qualification, see Works, 15.113).