Examples of the Architecture of Venice, Selected and Drawn to Measurement from the Edifices (extra illustrated)
The prints in this volume are based on drawings and daguerrotypes that Ruskin made in Venice. Shortly after the publication of that author's "Stones of Venice," volume 1 in 1851, readers were offered the chance to buy sixteen additional folio sized plates issued in three sets. The size and range of printmaking techniques produced finer architectural detail than in illustrations issued with the related book. Here, those plates are bound in red morocco tooled with gold by Francis Bedford. In addition to the original paper set covers, the introduction and descriptive list, the binder added two portraits of Ruskin published in 1858 and 1880, plus five early etched states of plates 2, 6, 8 and 11. The volume ends with a Venetian subject not from "Examples of Architecture" but similar in character. The group must have been bound after Herkomer's 1880 portrait print.
44.84(1) first extra plate: "Portrait of Ruskin," stipple engraving on chine collé by Francis Holl after George Richmond; in plate: "Drawn by George Richmond / Engraved by Francis Holl / Published June 15, 1858 by Smith, Elder & Co., 65 Cornhill"; simulated signature of sitter in plate at lower right.
44.84(2) second extra plate: "Portrait of Ruskin," 1880, drawn and engraved in mezzotint by Hubert Herkomer; in plate lower right: "HH / 80" and a remarque of a seated figure of Justice who ties a blindfold over her eyes. Signed in graphite lower right: "Hubert Herkomer"; blindstamp of the Association of Printsellers at lower left with "IT" at center [Herkomer's related watercolor was shown at the Grosvenor Gallery in 1879 and is now at the National Portrait Gallery, London; also see the artist's graphite drawing in the Met's collection (2013.1121.2)].
Preface, pp. i-ii, Descriptive list of plates, pp. 1-6.
Part I (plates 1-5B, plus one extra plate)
44.84(3) plate 1: "The Ducal Palace, Twentieth Capital," etching by Thomas Shotter Boys, mezzotint by Samuel William Reynolds on chine collé after a daguerrotype by J. Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / Aq. fort. T. Boys / S. Reynolds / 1".
44.84(4) third extra plate (early state of plate 2): "Arabian Windows in Campo Santa Maria Mater-Domini," etching with light tone by Thomas Shotter Boys after J. Ruskin [no inscribed text].
44.84(5) plate 2: "Arabian Windows in Campo Santa Maria Mater Domini," etching by Thomas Shotter Boys, mezzotint by Thomas Lupton on chine collé, after Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / Tho. Lupton / 2".
44.84(6) plate 3: "Byzantine Capitals from Torcello and St. Mark's" (Capital of Nave Pillar, Torcello and Capital of Shaft of Central Porch), lithograph with tint stone on chine collé by Thomas Shotter Boys after Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / T. S. Boys / 3".
44.84(7) plate 4: "Cornice Moulding from a Tomb in the Church of S.S. Giovanni e Paolo," lithograph by Thomas Shotter Boys after J. Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / T. S. Boys / 4".
44.84(8) plate 5: "The Ducal Palace, Compartments in the Southern Balcony," engraving on chine collé by Richard Parminster Cuff after Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / R. P. Cuff / 5".
44.84(9) plate 5B: "The Ducal Palace, Sections of the Southern Balcony," engraving on chine collé by Richard Parminster Cuff after Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / R. P. Cuff / 5B".
Part II (plates 6-10 plus two extra plates):
44.84(10) fourth extra plate (early state of plate 6), "St. Mark's Southern Portico," etching by Thomas Shotter Boys after J. Ruskin; in plate scratched text: "Thos. S. Boys Aqua fort fecit / J. Ruskin delt".
44.84(11) plate 6: "St. Mark's Southern Portico," etching by Thomas Shotter Boys, mezzotint by Thomas Lupton on chine collé after a drawing and daguerrotype by J. Ruskin; "J. Ruskin / Aq. Fort. T. Boys / Tho-s Lupton / 6".
44.84(12) plate 7: "St. Mark's Cathedral, Details of the Lily Capitals," engraving on chine collé by Richard Parminster Cuff after Ruskin; in plate "J. Ruskin / R. P. Cuff / 7".
44.84(13) fifth extra plate (early state of plate 8): "Byzantine Ruin in the Rio di Ca' Foscari," etching by Thomas Shotter Boys after J. Ruskin; scratched text in plate: "J. Ruskin delt / T. Boys Aq. fort".
44.84(14) plate 8: "Byzantine Ruin in the Rio di Ca' Foscari," etching with hand(?)-coloring, Thomas Shotter Boys after J. Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / T. S. Boys / 8".
44.84(15) plate 9: "Stilted Archivolts from a Ruin in the Rio di Ca' Foscari," tinted lithograph on chine collé by Thomas Shotter Boys after J. Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / T. S. Boys / 9".
44.84(16) plate 10: "Palace in the Rio di Ca' Foscari, Conjectural Reconstruction," etching on chine collé by John Carr Armytage after J. Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / J. C. Armytage / 10".
Part III (plates 11-15 plus three extra plates):
44.84(17) sixth extra plate (early state of plate 11): "Door Heads from Ca' Contarini Porta di Ferro and in Campo S. Margarita," etching by Thomas Shotter Boys after J. Ruskin; in plate: "T. Boys Aqu. fort".
44.84(18) seventh extra plate (early state of plate 11): "Door Heads from Ca' Contarini Porta di Ferro and in Campo S. Margarita," etching by Thomas Shotter Boys after J. Ruskin; in plate: "T. Boys Aqu. fort".
44.84(19) plate 11: "Door Heads from Ca' Contarini Porta di Ferro and in Campo S. Margarita," etching by Thomas Shotter Boys, faint mezzotint by Thomas Lupton, on chine collé, after J. Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / Aq. fort by T. Boys / T. Lupton / 11".
44.84(20) plate 12: "Door Heads in Ramo dirimpetto Mocenigo," tinted lithograph by Thomas Shotter Boys after J. Ruskin; "J. Ruskin / T. S. Boys / 12".
44.84(21) plate 13: "Door Heads in Campiello della chiesa, San Luca," etching on chine collé by John Carr Armytage after J. Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / J. C. Armytage / 13".
44.84(22) plate 14: "Ca' Bernardo Mocenigo, Capital of Window Shafts," lithograph on chine collé by Thomas Shotter Boys after J. Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / T. S. Boys / 14".
44.84(23) plate 15: The Ducal Palace, Renaissance Capitals in the Loggia, tinted lithograph on chine collé by Thomas Shotter Boys after J. Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / T. S. Boys / 15" [related watercolor by Ruskin at the Met (08.227.39)].
44.84(24): eighth extra plate (early state, not from "Examples of the Architecture of Venice"), Untitled (pointed archway with foliate molding, two roundels of angels in the spandrels, a Virgin and Child above, set in a curved wall over capitals and columns; behind are three arabian arched windows below roundels and a smaller arched window); etching by Thomas Shotter Boys after J. Ruskin; scratched in plate: "J. Ruskin / Thos. S. Boys Aq. fort" (in later states mezzotint was added by Thomas Lupton).
Paper covers of parts II and III.
Lists of plates for parts II and III.
44.84(1) first extra plate: "Portrait of Ruskin," stipple engraving on chine collé by Francis Holl after George Richmond; in plate: "Drawn by George Richmond / Engraved by Francis Holl / Published June 15, 1858 by Smith, Elder & Co., 65 Cornhill"; simulated signature of sitter in plate at lower right.
44.84(2) second extra plate: "Portrait of Ruskin," 1880, drawn and engraved in mezzotint by Hubert Herkomer; in plate lower right: "HH / 80" and a remarque of a seated figure of Justice who ties a blindfold over her eyes. Signed in graphite lower right: "Hubert Herkomer"; blindstamp of the Association of Printsellers at lower left with "IT" at center [Herkomer's related watercolor was shown at the Grosvenor Gallery in 1879 and is now at the National Portrait Gallery, London; also see the artist's graphite drawing in the Met's collection (2013.1121.2)].
Preface, pp. i-ii, Descriptive list of plates, pp. 1-6.
Part I (plates 1-5B, plus one extra plate)
44.84(3) plate 1: "The Ducal Palace, Twentieth Capital," etching by Thomas Shotter Boys, mezzotint by Samuel William Reynolds on chine collé after a daguerrotype by J. Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / Aq. fort. T. Boys / S. Reynolds / 1".
44.84(4) third extra plate (early state of plate 2): "Arabian Windows in Campo Santa Maria Mater-Domini," etching with light tone by Thomas Shotter Boys after J. Ruskin [no inscribed text].
44.84(5) plate 2: "Arabian Windows in Campo Santa Maria Mater Domini," etching by Thomas Shotter Boys, mezzotint by Thomas Lupton on chine collé, after Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / Tho. Lupton / 2".
44.84(6) plate 3: "Byzantine Capitals from Torcello and St. Mark's" (Capital of Nave Pillar, Torcello and Capital of Shaft of Central Porch), lithograph with tint stone on chine collé by Thomas Shotter Boys after Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / T. S. Boys / 3".
44.84(7) plate 4: "Cornice Moulding from a Tomb in the Church of S.S. Giovanni e Paolo," lithograph by Thomas Shotter Boys after J. Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / T. S. Boys / 4".
44.84(8) plate 5: "The Ducal Palace, Compartments in the Southern Balcony," engraving on chine collé by Richard Parminster Cuff after Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / R. P. Cuff / 5".
44.84(9) plate 5B: "The Ducal Palace, Sections of the Southern Balcony," engraving on chine collé by Richard Parminster Cuff after Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / R. P. Cuff / 5B".
Part II (plates 6-10 plus two extra plates):
44.84(10) fourth extra plate (early state of plate 6), "St. Mark's Southern Portico," etching by Thomas Shotter Boys after J. Ruskin; in plate scratched text: "Thos. S. Boys Aqua fort fecit / J. Ruskin delt".
44.84(11) plate 6: "St. Mark's Southern Portico," etching by Thomas Shotter Boys, mezzotint by Thomas Lupton on chine collé after a drawing and daguerrotype by J. Ruskin; "J. Ruskin / Aq. Fort. T. Boys / Tho-s Lupton / 6".
44.84(12) plate 7: "St. Mark's Cathedral, Details of the Lily Capitals," engraving on chine collé by Richard Parminster Cuff after Ruskin; in plate "J. Ruskin / R. P. Cuff / 7".
44.84(13) fifth extra plate (early state of plate 8): "Byzantine Ruin in the Rio di Ca' Foscari," etching by Thomas Shotter Boys after J. Ruskin; scratched text in plate: "J. Ruskin delt / T. Boys Aq. fort".
44.84(14) plate 8: "Byzantine Ruin in the Rio di Ca' Foscari," etching with hand(?)-coloring, Thomas Shotter Boys after J. Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / T. S. Boys / 8".
44.84(15) plate 9: "Stilted Archivolts from a Ruin in the Rio di Ca' Foscari," tinted lithograph on chine collé by Thomas Shotter Boys after J. Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / T. S. Boys / 9".
44.84(16) plate 10: "Palace in the Rio di Ca' Foscari, Conjectural Reconstruction," etching on chine collé by John Carr Armytage after J. Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / J. C. Armytage / 10".
Part III (plates 11-15 plus three extra plates):
44.84(17) sixth extra plate (early state of plate 11): "Door Heads from Ca' Contarini Porta di Ferro and in Campo S. Margarita," etching by Thomas Shotter Boys after J. Ruskin; in plate: "T. Boys Aqu. fort".
44.84(18) seventh extra plate (early state of plate 11): "Door Heads from Ca' Contarini Porta di Ferro and in Campo S. Margarita," etching by Thomas Shotter Boys after J. Ruskin; in plate: "T. Boys Aqu. fort".
44.84(19) plate 11: "Door Heads from Ca' Contarini Porta di Ferro and in Campo S. Margarita," etching by Thomas Shotter Boys, faint mezzotint by Thomas Lupton, on chine collé, after J. Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / Aq. fort by T. Boys / T. Lupton / 11".
44.84(20) plate 12: "Door Heads in Ramo dirimpetto Mocenigo," tinted lithograph by Thomas Shotter Boys after J. Ruskin; "J. Ruskin / T. S. Boys / 12".
44.84(21) plate 13: "Door Heads in Campiello della chiesa, San Luca," etching on chine collé by John Carr Armytage after J. Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / J. C. Armytage / 13".
44.84(22) plate 14: "Ca' Bernardo Mocenigo, Capital of Window Shafts," lithograph on chine collé by Thomas Shotter Boys after J. Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / T. S. Boys / 14".
44.84(23) plate 15: The Ducal Palace, Renaissance Capitals in the Loggia, tinted lithograph on chine collé by Thomas Shotter Boys after J. Ruskin; in plate: "J. Ruskin / T. S. Boys / 15" [related watercolor by Ruskin at the Met (08.227.39)].
44.84(24): eighth extra plate (early state, not from "Examples of the Architecture of Venice"), Untitled (pointed archway with foliate molding, two roundels of angels in the spandrels, a Virgin and Child above, set in a curved wall over capitals and columns; behind are three arabian arched windows below roundels and a smaller arched window); etching by Thomas Shotter Boys after J. Ruskin; scratched in plate: "J. Ruskin / Thos. S. Boys Aq. fort" (in later states mezzotint was added by Thomas Lupton).
Paper covers of parts II and III.
Lists of plates for parts II and III.
Artwork Details
- Title: Examples of the Architecture of Venice, Selected and Drawn to Measurement from the Edifices (extra illustrated)
- Artist: After John Ruskin (British, London 1819–1900 Brantwood, Cumbria)
- Artist: After George Richmond (British, Brompton 1809–1896 London)
- Artist: Artist and engraver Sir Hubert von Herkomer (British, Waal, Bavaria 1849–1914 Budleigh Salterton, Devon)
- Engraver: Francis Holl (British, London 1815–1884 Milford, near Godalming, Surrey)
- Etcher: Etched and lithographed by Thomas Shotter Boys (British, Pentonville 1803–1874 London)
- Engraver: Mezzotint engraving by Samuel William Reynolds, the younger (British, London 1794–1872 Feltham Hill, Middlesex)
- Engraver: Mezzotint engraving by Thomas Goff Lupton (British, London 1791–1873 London)
- Engraver: Richard Parminster Cuff (British, 1819–1883)
- Etcher: John Carr Armytage (British, London 1802–1897)
- Publisher: Smith, Elder, & Co. (London)
- Publisher: P. & D. Colnaghi & Co.
- Binder: Francis Bedford (British, London 1799–1883 Hammersmith)
- Sitter: John Ruskin (British, London 1819–1900 Brantwood, Cumbria)
- Printer: Henry Richard Vizetelly (British, 1820–1894 Farnham)
- Date: 1851–83
- Medium: Mezzotint, etching, aquatint, engraving and lithographs with tint stones, numbered plates on chine collé
- Dimensions: Book: 25 1/8 × 18 1/2 × 1 3/4 in. (63.8 × 47 × 4.5 cm)
Page: 20 11/16 × 13 5/16 in. (52.5 × 33.8 cm) - Classifications: Books, Ornament & Architecture
- Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1944
- Object Number: 44.84
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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