The Stones of Venice (book)
Encyclopedia
The Stones of Venice is a three-volume treatise on Venetian
art and architecture by English art historian John Ruskin
, first published from 1851 to 1853. Intending to prove how the architecture in Venice
exemplified the principles he discussed in his earlier work, The Seven Lamps of Architecture
, Ruskin examined the city in detail, describing for example over eighty churches. He discusses architecture of Venice's Byzantine
, Gothic
and Renaissance
periods, and provides a general history of the city as well.
The book aroused considerable interest in Victorian
Britain and beyond. The chapter "The Nature of Gothic" (from volume 2) was admired by William Morris
, who published it separately in an edition which is in itself an example of Gothic revival. It inspired Marcel Proust
; the narrator of the Recherche
visits Venice with his mother in a state of enthusiasm for Ruskin.
Various shortened editions have been published, including one edited by J.G. Links published in the USA in 1960.
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
art and architecture by English art historian John Ruskin
John Ruskin
John Ruskin was the leading English art critic of the Victorian era, also an art patron, draughtsman, watercolourist, a prominent social thinker and philanthropist. He wrote on subjects ranging from geology to architecture, myth to ornithology, literature to education, and botany to political...
, first published from 1851 to 1853. Intending to prove how the architecture in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
exemplified the principles he discussed in his earlier work, The Seven Lamps of Architecture
The Seven Lamps of Architecture
The Seven Lamps of Architecture, published in May 1849, is an extended essay written by the English art critic and theorist John Ruskin. The 'lamps' of the title are Ruskin's principles of architecture, which he later enlarged upon in the three-volume The Stones of Venice. To an extent, they...
, Ruskin examined the city in detail, describing for example over eighty churches. He discusses architecture of Venice's Byzantine
Byzantine architecture
Byzantine architecture is the architecture of the Byzantine Empire. The empire gradually emerged as a distinct artistic and cultural entity from what is today referred to as the Roman Empire after AD 330, when the Roman Emperor Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire east from Rome to...
, Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
and Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
periods, and provides a general history of the city as well.
The book aroused considerable interest in Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
Britain and beyond. The chapter "The Nature of Gothic" (from volume 2) was admired by William Morris
William Morris
William Morris 24 March 18343 October 1896 was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement...
, who published it separately in an edition which is in itself an example of Gothic revival. It inspired Marcel Proust
Marcel Proust
Valentin Louis Georges Eugène Marcel Proust was a French novelist, critic, and essayist best known for his monumental À la recherche du temps perdu...
; the narrator of the Recherche
In Search of Lost Time
In Search of Lost Time or Remembrance of Things Past is a novel in seven volumes by Marcel Proust. His most prominent work, it is popularly known for its considerable length and the notion of involuntary memory, the most famous example being the "episode of the madeleine." The novel is widely...
visits Venice with his mother in a state of enthusiasm for Ruskin.
Various shortened editions have been published, including one edited by J.G. Links published in the USA in 1960.
External links
- The Stones of Venice (Introductions) at Project Gutenberg
- Volume 1 at Archive.org
- Volume 2 at Archive.org
- Volume 3 at Archive.org