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Stones of Venice [introductions]John Ruskin

Stones of Venice [introductions]

by OpenStories

Original author: John Ruskin

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"Stones of Venice [introductions]" by John Ruskin is a three-volume treatise published between 1851 and 1853. This detailed examination of Venetian architecture explores over eighty churches across Byzantine, Gothic, and Renaissance periods while weaving together art history and social philosophy. Ruskin argues that architecture reflects society's values, advocating for a world where thinkers work and workers think. His passionate defense of Gothic design profoundly influenced Victorian Britain and inspired figures from William Morris to Marcel Proust.

Stones of Venice [introductions], by John Ruskin. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #9804.

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223 Chapters

  1. 1.Preface182 words
  2. 2.Section I: Since the first dominion of men was asserted over the ocean,448 words
  3. 3.Section III: Venice is usually conceived as an oligarchy: She was so284 words
  4. 4.Section IV: Let the reader therefore conceive the existence of the267 words
  5. 5.Section V: The second period opens with a hundred and twenty years, the318 words
  6. 6.Section VI: Now there is apparently a significative coincidence between326 words
  7. 7.Section VIII: On this collateral question I wish the reader's mind to be301 words
  8. 8.Section IX: And yet, in the midst of this national criminality, we shall447 words
  9. 9.Section X: There are, therefore, two strange and solemn lights in which313 words
  10. 10.Section XI: There is, however, another most interesting feature in the409 words
  11. 11.Section XII: One more circumstance remains to be noted respecting the281 words
  12. 12.Section XIII: These, then, appear to me to be the points of chief291 words
  13. 13.Section XIV: The vital religion, observe, not the formal. Outward191 words
  14. 14.Section XV: Such is the evidence of Painting. To collect that of236 words
  15. 15.Section XVI: This passage is of peculiar interest, for two reasons607 words
  16. 16.Section XX: This Greek architecture, then, with its two orders, was246 words
  17. 17.Section XXI: This Christian art of the declining empire is divided into245 words
  18. 18.Section XXII: Meantime there had been preparation for its renewal. While166 words
  19. 19.Section XXIII: Some of the barbaric nations were, of course, not417 words
  20. 20.Section XXVI: It will be part of my endeavor, in the following work, to186 words
  21. 21.Section XXVII: The changes effected by the Lombard are more curious535 words
  22. 22.Section XXX: Understanding thus much of the formation of the great203 words
  23. 23.Section XXXI: The Ducal residence was removed to Venice in 809, and the344 words
  24. 24.Section XXXIII: The Venetians were always ready to receive lessons in811 words
  25. 25.Section XXXVII: Instant degradation followed in every direction,--a187 words
  26. 26.Section XXXVIII: I have not written in vain if I have heretofore done394 words
  27. 27.Section XXXIX: It is in Venice, therefore, and in Venice only that203 words
  28. 28.Section XL: I must again refer to the importance which I have above501 words
  29. 29.Section XLII: If the writer above quoted was cold beside the statue of518 words
  30. 30.Section XLIII: It was indeed to be seen by nearly every one; and I do410 words
  31. 31.Section XLV: That masonry changes at the centre of the eighth arch from268 words
  32. 32.Section XLVI: Now, the architect who built under Foscari, in 1424545 words
  33. 33.Section XLIX: Such is the nature of the accidental evidence on which I1,307 words
  34. 34.Section I: In the olden days of travelling, now to return no more, in1,003 words
  35. 35.Section II: And although the last few eventful years, fraught with669 words
  36. 36.Section III: When the eye falls casually on a map of Europe, there is no212 words
  37. 37.Section IV: I will not tax the reader's faith in modern science by265 words
  38. 38.Section V: What circumstances directed the peculiar arrangement of this311 words
  39. 39.Section VI: The average rise and fall of the tide is about three feet857 words
  40. 40.Section VII: The reader may perhaps have felt some pain in the contrast270 words
  41. 41.Section I: Seven miles to the north of Venice, the banks of sand, which449 words
  42. 42.Section II: Then look farther to the south. Beyond the widening branches212 words
  43. 43.Section III: The inlet which runs nearest to the base of the campanile624 words
  44. 44.Section IV: For observe this choice of subjects. It is indeed possible368 words
  45. 45.Section V: Nor were the strength and elasticity of their minds, even in227 words
  46. 46.Section VI: The pulpit, however, is not among the least noticeable of581 words
  47. 47.Section VII: It appears however questionable in the present instance,352 words
  48. 48.Section VIII: When the sermon is good we need not much concern ourselves306 words
  49. 49.Section IX: But, in the second place, whatever ornaments we admit ought596 words
  50. 50.Section X: But the severity which is so marked in the pulpit at Torcello204 words
  51. 51.Section XI: But there is one more circumstance which we ought to420 words
  52. 52.Chapter IV: St. Mark's152 words
  53. 53.Section II: That the Venetians possessed themselves of his body in the282 words
  54. 54.Section III: But whether St. Mark was first bishop of Aquileia or not,316 words
  55. 55.Section V: This first church was however destroyed by fire, when the557 words
  56. 56.Section VII: It has just been stated that the existing building was288 words
  57. 57.Section VIII: Of the main facts of this tale there is no doubt. They802 words
  58. 58.Section X: And now I wish that the reader, before I bring him into St619 words
  59. 59.Section XII: We find ourselves in a paved alley, some seven feet wide489 words
  60. 60.Section XIII: A yard or two farther, we pass the hostelry of the Black244 words
  61. 61.Section XIV: And well may they fall back, for beyond those troops of488 words
  62. 62.Section XV: And what effect has this splendor on those who pass beneath321 words
  63. 63.Section XVI: We are in a low vaulted room; vaulted, not with arches, but348 words
  64. 64.Section XVII: Look round at the room in which he lies. The floor of it304 words
  65. 65.Section XVIII: He who lies under that stony canopy would have taught her635 words
  66. 66.Section XX: But we must not hastily conclude from this that the nobler523 words
  67. 67.Section XXI: Indeed, these inferior means of exciting religious emotion293 words
  68. 68.Section XXII: It must therefore be altogether without reference to its363 words
  69. 69.Section XXIV: Now the first broad characteristic of the building, and399 words
  70. 70.Section XXV: I have used the word duplicity in no depreciatory sense. In212 words
  71. 71.Section XXVI: First, consider the natural circumstances which give rise449 words
  72. 72.Section XXVII: But these were not the only motives which influenced the224 words
  73. 73.Section XXVIII: Thus far, however, the justification of the style of611 words
  74. 74.Section XXX: LAW I. That the plinths and cornices used for binding362 words
  75. 75.Section XXXII: LAW III. All shafts are to be solid. Wherever, by the329 words
  76. 76.Section XXXIII: And this for another reason yet. Although, as we have426 words
  77. 77.Section XXXIV: LAW IV. The shafts may sometimes be independent of the342 words
  78. 78.Section XXXV: LAW V. The shafts may be of variable size. Since515 words
  79. 79.Section XXXVI: The application of the principles of jewellery to the439 words
  80. 80.Section XXXVII: LAW VI. The decoration must be shallow in381 words
  81. 81.Section XXXVIII: The first would of course be a diminution of the214 words
  82. 82.Section XXXIX: But when various ideas adverse to the representation of176 words
  83. 83.Section XL: Farther. In proportion to the degree in which his subject287 words
  84. 84.Section XLI: Farther. While the sculptures of the incrusted school will303 words
  85. 85.Section XLIII: I believe that from the beginning of the world there has444 words
  86. 86.Section XLV: In the same way, whenever the subject of the sculpture was551 words
  87. 87.Section XLVII: LAW VII. That the impression of the architecture is267 words
  88. 88.Section XLVIII: The due consideration of the principles above stated590 words
  89. 89.Section XLIX: It is left a fragment, in order to get it on a larger954 words
  90. 90.Section LII: Now I do not say that the contrast of the ancient with the211 words
  91. 91.Section LIII: Let the reader fix this great fact well in his mind, and698 words
  92. 92.Section LIV: This fact is so important, and so little considered, that I376 words
  93. 93.Section LV: And the reader will now perceive that the question262 words
  94. 94.Section LVI: Then the second question submitted to us, whether the358 words
  95. 95.Section LVII: But there is one character of Byzantine work which,183 words
  96. 96.Section LVIII: The more I have examined the subject the more dangerous I397 words
  97. 97.Section LIX: There are indeed many very evident reasons for this; the306 words
  98. 98.Section LX: The fact seems to be that strength of religious feeling is301 words
  99. 99.Section LXI: Ever since the period of the Renaissance, however, the673 words
  100. 100.Section LXII: I shall pursue this subject farther in another place; but898 words
  101. 101.Section LXIII: But of all these branches the most important are the297 words
  102. 102.Section LXIV: I shall, in a future portion of this work, endeavor to349 words
  103. 103.Section LXVI: Then, when after his baptism he was permitted to enter the239 words
  104. 104.Section LXVII: Therefore the mosaic of the first dome, which is over the346 words
  105. 105.Section LXVIII: After thus hearing praise rendered to God by the angels350 words
  106. 106.Section LXX: The third cupola, that over the altar, represents the326 words
  107. 107.Section LXXI: And this thought may surely dispose the reader to look713 words
  108. 108.Section I: It was stated in the commencement of the preceding chapter191 words
  109. 109.Section II: The reader will hardly believe that while the architectural141 words
  110. 110.Section III: Before, however, the reader can enter upon any inquiry into398 words
  111. 111.Section IV: We must now proceed to obtain some rough idea of the306 words
  112. 112.Section V: The great facade which fronts the spectator looks southward159 words
  1. 113.Section VI: It will be observed that the facade is composed of a smooth228 words
  2. 114.Section VII: In the bird's-eye view above, Fig. II., it will be noticed394 words
  3. 115.Section VIII: On the party wall, between the second and third windows,182 words
  4. 116.Section IX: The reader is now well enough acquainted with the topography482 words
  5. 117.Section X: Of the exact position and form of this palace of Participazio592 words
  6. 118.Section XI: In the year 1106, it was for the second time injured by291 words
  7. 119.Section XII: 2nd. The GOTHIC PALACE. The reader, doubtless, recollects341 words
  8. 120.Section XIII: Sansovino, with a caution very frequent among Venetian399 words
  9. 121.Section XIV: We cannot, therefore, see the extremity, wherein lay125 words
  10. 122.Section XV: But the newly constituted Senate had need of other additions339 words
  11. 123.Section XVI: Now, observe the significant progress of events. They had222 words
  12. 124.Section XVII: It appears, then, that after the Senate had completed167 words
  13. 125.Section XVIII: But before it was finished, occasion had been discovered309 words
  14. 126.Section XIX: In saying that it is the same now in existence, I do not585 words
  15. 127.Section XX: 3rd. The RENAISSANCE PALACE. I must go back a step or two,504 words
  16. 128.Section XXI: The decree, thus passed in order to guard against their own111 words
  17. 129.Section XXII: "Therefore they set themselves with all diligence and care589 words
  18. 130.Section XXIII: There are one or two expressions in the above extracts104 words
  19. 131.Section XXIV: The manner in which Sanuto expresses himself will at once413 words
  20. 132.Section XXV: That hammer stroke was the first act of the period properly138 words
  21. 133.Section XXVI: I have no intention of following out, in their intricate225 words
  22. 134.Section XXVII: By reference to the figure the reader will see that we268 words
  23. 135.Section XVIII: But the palace was not long permitted to remain in this241 words
  24. 136.Section XXIX: The repairs necessarily undertaken at this time were115 words
  25. 137.Section XXX: Now, therefore, we are at liberty to examine some of the138 words
  26. 138.Section XXXI: First, then, looking back to the woodcut at the beginning337 words
  27. 139.Section XXXII: The Ducal Palace, however, accepts the principle in its171 words
  28. 140.Section XXXIII: It was before noticed that one of the corners of the81 words
  29. 141.Section XXXIV: I shall describe the bearing capitals hereafter, in their147 words
  30. 142.Section XXXV: Now the first two angles, of the Vine and Fig-tree, belong217 words
  31. 143.Section XXXVI: I have called the sculpture on the Fig-tree angle the110 words
  32. 144.Section XXXVII: In both the subjects, of the Fall and the Drunkenness,454 words
  33. 145.Section XXXVIII: As must always be the case in early sculpture, the249 words
  34. 146.Section XXXIX: The head of the Noah on the Ducal Palace, evidently145 words
  35. 147.Section XL: It may be observed, as a farther evidence of the date of the89 words
  36. 148.Section XLI: The figures of Adam and Eve, sculptured on each side of the189 words
  37. 149.Section XLII: Above these three sculptures are set, in the upper arcade,193 words
  38. 150.Section XLIII: Such are the subjects of the main sculptures decorating159 words
  39. 151.Section XLIV: We will now take the pillars of the Ducal Palace in their85 words
  40. 152.Section XLV: All their capitals, except that of the first, are230 words
  41. 153.Section XLVI: FIRST CAPITAL: i.e. of the pilaster at the Vine angle166 words
  42. 154.Section XLVII: SECOND CAPITAL. Only three sides of the original work are463 words
  43. 155.Section XLVIII: SEVENTH CAPITAL. This is the first of the series which154 words
  44. 156.Section XLIX: Second side. Constancy; not very characteristic. An120 words
  45. 157.Section L: Third side. Discord; holding up her finger, but137 words
  46. 158.Section LI: Fourth side. Patience. A female figure, very124 words
  47. 159.Section LII: Fifth side. Despair. A female figure thrusting a116 words
  48. 160.Section LIII: Sixth side. Obedience: with her arms folded; meek,131 words
  49. 161.Section LIV: Seventh side. Infidelity. A man in a turban, with a132 words
  50. 162.Section LV: Eighth side. Modesty; bearing a pitcher. (In the110 words
  51. 163.Section LVI: EIGHTH CAPITAL. It has no inscriptions, and its subjects264 words
  52. 164.Section LVII: NINTH CAPITAL. First side. Faith. She has her left126 words
  53. 165.Section LVIII: Second side. Fortitude. A long-bearded man Samson?180 words
  54. 166.Section LIX: Third side. Temperance; bearing a pitcher of water488 words
  55. 167.Section LX: Fourth side. Humility; with a veil upon her head,100 words
  56. 168.Section LXI: Fifth side. Charity. A woman with her lap full of199 words
  57. 169.Section LXII: Sixth side. Justice. Crowned, and with sword162 words
  58. 170.Section LXIII: Seventh side. Prudence. A man with a book and a174 words
  59. 171.Section LXIV: Eighth side. Hope. A figure full of devotional225 words
  60. 172.Section LXV: TENTH CAPITAL. First side. Luxury (the opposite of493 words
  61. 173.Section LXVI: Second side. Gluttony. A woman in a turban, with a87 words
  62. 174.Section LXVII: Third side. Pride. A knight, with a heavy and219 words
  63. 175.Section LXVIII: Fourth side. Anger. A woman tearing her dress open at93 words
  64. 176.Section LXIX: Fifth side. Avarice. An old woman with a veil over232 words
  65. 177.Section LXX: Sixth side. Idleness. Accidia. A figure much broken141 words
  66. 178.Section LXXI: Seventh side. Vanity. She is smiling complacently164 words
  67. 179.Section LXXII: Eighth side. Envy. One of the noblest pieces of229 words
  68. 180.Section LXXIV: TWELFTH CAPITAL. This has been very interesting, but is348 words
  69. 181.Section LXXV: Second side. Cheerfulness. A woman with long flowing66 words
  70. 182.Section LXXVI: Third side. Destroyed; but, from the copy, we find73 words
  71. 183.Section LXXVII: Fourth side. Destroyed, all but a book, which55 words
  72. 184.Section LXXVIII: Fifth side. Only a scroll is left; but, from the52 words
  73. 185.Section LXXIX: Sixth side. Falsehood. An old woman leaning on a99 words
  74. 186.Section LXXX: Seventh side. Injustice. An armed figure holding a86 words
  75. 187.Section LXXXI: THIRTEENTH CAPITAL. It has lions' heads all round,55 words
  76. 188.Section LXXXII: FIFTEENTH CAPITAL. The pillar to which it belongs is189 words
  77. 189.Section LXXXIII: SIXTEENTH CAPITAL. It is decorated with eight large160 words
  78. 190.Section LXXXIV: SEVENTEENTH CAPITAL. This has been so destroyed by the176 words
  79. 191.Section LXXXV: We have now arrived at the EIGHTEENTH CAPITAL, the most145 words
  80. 192.Section LXXXVI: It should be premised that, in modern astrology, the147 words
  81. 193.Section LXXXVIII: Second side. Jupiter, in his houses Sagittarius193 words
  82. 194.Section LXXXIX: Third side. Mars, in his houses Aries and Scorpio115 words
  83. 195.Section XC: Fourth side. The Sun, in his house Leo. Represented59 words
  84. 196.Section XCI: Fifth side. Venus, in her houses Taurus and Libra75 words
  85. 197.Section XCIII: Seventh side. The Moon, in her house Cancer. This228 words
  86. 198.Section XCIV: Eighth side. God creating Man. Represented as a263 words
  87. 199.Section XCV: NINETEENTH CAPITAL. This is, of course, the second counting138 words
  88. 200.Section XCVI: First side. "ST. SIMPLICIUS": so inscribed. A509 words
  89. 201.Section XCVII: TWENTIETH CAPITAL. It is adorned with heads of animals,184 words
  90. 202.Section XCVIII: First side. A lion with a stag's haunch in his214 words
  91. 203.Section XCIX: TWENTY-FIRST CAPITAL. Represents the principal inferior205 words
  92. 204.Section C: TWENTY-SECOND CAPITAL. The Ages of Man; and the influence of289 words
  93. 205.Section CI: Shakespeare's Seven Ages are of course merely the expression53 words
  94. 206.Section CII: TWENTY-FOURTH CAPITAL. This belongs to the large shaft98 words
  95. 207.Section CIII: TWENTY-FIFTH CAPITAL. We have here the employments of the360 words
  96. 208.Section CIV: TWENTY-SIXTH CAPITAL. Copied from the fifteenth, merely159 words
  97. 209.Section CV: TWENTY-EIGHTH CAPITAL. Copied from the seventh122 words
  98. 210.Section CVI: THIRTY-SIXTH CAPITAL. This is the last of the Piazzetta438 words
  99. 211.Section CVII: The reader will observe that this capital is of peculiar548 words
  100. 212.Section CVIII: We have now examined the portions of the palace which490 words
  101. 213.Section CIX: The reader who is not able to examine the building on the136 words
  102. 214.Section CX: It is very possible that the reader may at first like fig232 words
  103. 215.Section CXI: This early sculpture of the Ducal Palace, then, represents70 words
  104. 216.Section CXII: And as, under the shadow of these nodding leaves, we bid329 words
  105. 217.Section CXIII: Not so in the interior. All vestige of the earlier modes121 words
  106. 218.Section CXIV: The reader will forgive my quitting our more immediate254 words
  107. 219.Section CXV: This being so, the pictures that are most valued are for164 words
  108. 220.Section CXVI: On the other hand, the most precious works of any noble91 words
  109. 221.Section CXVII: Works thus executed are of course despised, on account of200 words
  110. 222.Section CXVIII: Many of the pictures on the ceilings and walls of the354 words
  111. 223.Section CXIX: I leave these facts to the consideration of the European641 words