The Stones of Venice

In the early 1850s, John Ruskin published The Stones of Venice, a history of Venetian architecture. He asserted the moral and aesthetic superiority of Venices medieval buildings over structures from the Renaissance period. Ruskins engaging and beautifully crafted prose inspired his Anglo-American readers to travel to Venice, to construct Gothic Revival buildings in their own cities, and to critically examine the moral virtues of modern society and how those principles are reflected in modern architecture. Since 1904, only abridged editions of The Stones of Venice have been published all of which sacrifice Ruskins didacticism in favour of the aestheticism of a few select passages. As the first unabridged edition in over a century, this book restores the context for those selections. It retains Ruskins tripartite history of Venice and includes material omitted from abridged versions, including Ruskins supplementary folio. It features reproductions of many of Ruskins original sketches, which in previous editions appeared only as engraved copies. This edition includes his list of Venices most important buildings, with endnotes updating their contemporary status, as well as an appendix with selections from other Venetian-themed texts by Ruskin. Introducing new readers to an important literary figure, this book also features an introductory essay that situates The Stones of Venice within John Ruskins life and writings.