'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 a plate from the 1887 edition published by G. Allen. Ruskin wrote of this plate: 'it is the simplest type of a perfect construction, which I have found in Venice - having the lintel arch - and superimposed gabled dripstone. It is the only remnant of the house to which it once belonged.'

• Presented by the Executors of the Rt. Hon. William Kenrick, 1920
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