author
Robert Baldwin Ross
1869–1918
A lively figure in the London arts world, he is remembered as a sharp-eyed critic, editor, and one of Oscar Wilde’s closest allies. His loyalty after Wilde’s downfall helped preserve work that might otherwise have been lost.
2 Audiobooks
Aubrey Beardsley
by Robert Baldwin Ross
Masques & Phases
by Robert Baldwin Ross
About the author
Born in Tours, France, on May 25, 1869, Robert Baldwin Ross — often called Robbie Ross — was a journalist, art critic, and art dealer with strong Canadian family ties. He became an important presence in late Victorian and Edwardian literary life, moving in artistic circles in London and writing criticism while championing modern art and literature.
Ross is best known for his close friendship with Oscar Wilde. He supported Wilde during the years of scandal and imprisonment, and after Wilde’s death he served as his literary executor. In that role, he helped protect Wilde’s reputation, managed his papers, and worked to bring his writings back to readers.
He died in London on October 5, 1918. Though often mentioned in connection with Wilde, Ross stands out in his own right as a loyal friend, a careful editor, and a committed man of letters who helped shape how one of the era’s most famous writers would be remembered.