Chapter I: Preface

In making the following selections, I have tried to avoid the appearance of such a volume as used to be entitled _Elegant Extracts_. Wherever practicable, entire chapters or lectures are given, or at least passages of sufficient length to insure a correct notion of the general complexion of Ruskin's work. The text is in all cases that of the first editions, unless these were later revised by Ruskin himself. The original spelling and punctuation are preserved, but a few minor changes have been made for the sake of uniformity among the various extracts. For similar reasons, Ruskin's numbering of paragraphs is dispensed with.

I have aimed not to multiply notes. Practically all Ruskin's own annotation is given, with the exception of one or two very long and somewhat irrelevant notes from _Stones of Venice_. It has not been deemed necessary to give the dates of every painter or to explain every geographical reference. On the other hand, the sources of most of the quotations are indicated. In the preparation of these notes, the magnificent library edition of Messrs. Cook and Wedderburn has inevitably been of considerable assistance; but all their references have been verified, many errors have been corrected, and much has of course been added.

In closing I wish to express my obligation to my former colleague, Dr. Lucius H. Holt, without whose assistance this volume would never have appeared. He wrote a number of the notes, including the short prefaces to the various selections, and prepared the manuscript for the printer.

C.B.T.

_September, 1908_.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION
The Life of Ruskin
The Unity of Ruskin's Writings
Ruskin's Style

SELECTIONS FROM MODERN PAINTERS
The Earth-Veil
The Mountain Glory
Sunrise on the Alps
The Grand Style
Of Realization
Of the Novelty of Landscape
Of the Pathetic Fallacy
Of Classical Landscape
Of Modern Landscape
The Two Boyhoods

SELECTIONS FROM THE STONES OF VENICE
The Throne
St. Mark's
Characteristics of Gothic Architecture

SELECTIONS FROM THE SEVEN LAMPS OF ARCHITECTURE
The Lamp of Memory
The Lamp of Obedience

SELECTIONS FROM LECTURES ON ART
Inaugural
The Relation of Art to Morals
The Relation of Art to Use

ART AND HISTORY

TRAFFIC

LIFE AND ITS ARTS

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

ILLUSTRATIONS

JOHN RUSKIN IN 1857 TURNER'S FIGHTING TEMERAIRE CHURCH OF ST. MARK, VENICE ST. MARK'S: CENTRAL ARCH OF FACADE