When I planned this work, I had materials by me, collected at different times of sojourn in Venice during the last seventeen years, which it seemed to me might be arranged with little difficulty, and which I believed to be of value as illustrating the history of Southern Gothic.  Requiring, however, some clearer assurance respecting certain points of chronology, I went to Venice finally in the autumn of 1849 not doubting but that the dates of the principal edifices of the ancient city were either ascertained, or ascertainable without extraordinary research.  To my consternation, I found that the Venetian antiquaries were not agreed within a century as to the date of the building of the facades of the Ducal Palace, and that nothing was known of any other civil edifice of the early city, except that at some time or other it had been fitted up for somebody’s reception, and been thereupon fresh painted.  Every date in question was determinable only by internal evidence; and it became necessary for me to examine not only every one of the older palaces, stone by stone, but every fragment throughout the city, which afforded any clue to the formation of its styles.

From the Preface written by John Ruskin, signed “Denmark Hill, February, 1851.”

THE STONES OF VENICE – THE FOUNDATIONS by John Ruskin with illustrations drawn by the author. Published by John Wiley, New York, copyright 1851.  Hardcover, brown, decorated front and back, with gilt decoration in the center.  Spine has gilt title.  The top of the pages is also gilt.  Some minor foxing throughout, but very readable.  The binding is tight, no loose pages.  The inside front cover has been repaired with cloth tape to the binding.  The book is in overall good condition.  Twenty-one full-page lithograph illustrations in black and white, sepia, and color.  There are many other illustrations in black and white.   This book contains 435 pages, and measures 9 ¾” x 6 ¼”.

ILLUSTRATIONS SHOWN:

            1. Decorations by Disks – Palazzo Dei Badoari Partecipazzi

2. St. Mark’s tower at Venice – (smaller comparison) Tower at the college of Edinburgh

            3. Archivolt Decoration at Verona

            4. Arch Masony - Broletto of Como

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