Examples of Architecture of Venice - The Ducal Palace, Sections of the Southern BalconyBy R Parminster Cuff, John Ruskin 1887 Accession number: 1920P663 Line engraving on paper. Width: 435 mm Height: 636 mm Information'Examples of the Architecture of Venice' was a folio of plates first published in 1851 in connection with Ruskin's book on Venetian architecture, 'The Stones of Venice.' The preface to the folio explains that: ' Mr Ruskin has found it impossible to reduce to the size of an octavo volume all the sketches made to illustrate his intended Essay on Venetian architecture; at least, without loss of accuracy in detail: he has thought it better to separate some of the plates from the text, than either to throw the latter into a folio form, or diminish the fidelity of the drawings.' Ruskin selected 16 of his drawings of architectural details to be published as plates in a large format folio each accompanied by an explanatory text. This is the second of two plates which examine the compartments of the southern balcony in the Ducal Palace. According to Ruskin this balcony was an 'interesting [example] of the degradation of the Venetian Gothic by the Renaissance infection.' He added that 'there is little to praise, and much to blame, in the manner of this design; but it is one of singular importance in the architectural system of Venice, and therefore could not be overlooked.' The figures in the plate are cross-sections of various elements of the balcony. Fig. 1 'is that of the uppermost horizontal moulding; Fig. 2 of the central moulding; and Fig. 3 of the basic plinth.' Fig. 4 'is the horizontal section through the pilaster on the outside' and Fig. 5 'is the elevation of the head of one of the compartments.'
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