My father and I were in absolute sympathy about Copley Fielding, and I could find it in my heart now to wish I had lived at the Land's End, and never seen any art but Prout's and his. We were very much set up at making his acquaintance, and were very happy in it: the modestest of presidents [of the Old Water Colour-Society ] he was, simplest of painters, without a vestige of romance, but purest love of daily sunshine and constant hills. ( Works, 35.213)
With the publication of Modern Painters, Ruskin believed that: 'Taken as a body the total group Modern Painters were, therefore, more startled than flattered by my schismatic praise, the modest ones, such as Fielding, Prout, and Stanfield, felt that it was more than they deserved' ( Works, 35.215).