Archivolt in St. Mark's by John Ruskin. Mezzotint of the original watercolor by Thos. Lupton. 1853 Source: Stones of Venice, volume III. According to the editors of the Library Edition, “This plate is reproduced from an unfinished messotint intended for a later part of The Example. There is also a drawing of the subject by Ruskin in the collection of Mrs. Cunliffe. It is in pen, colour, and gold, 12 x I7f. A note on the back says: ‘From a daguerreotype with added study of detail.’”

Ruskin's text

The archivolt is that of the southernmost lateral porch of St. Mark's; that is, the porch to the extreme right of the spectator as he fronts the façadeade. Next to it, on the spectator's left (i.e. between this porch and the great central one), is the porch of whose archivolt a piece is shown in Plate 6 of the second volume of The Stones of Venice, The doorway has been converted into a window. On the keystone of the arch is the Child Jesus in His mother's arms. It should be observed that Christ is similarly the keystone of every arch of every door of the building.]

Image scan and formatting by George P. Landow. Text from Internet Archive corrected against the Library Edition. [You may use any of theis image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your web document to this URL or mention the appropriate URL in your print document.]

Bibliography

Ruskin, John. Works, "The Library Edition." eds. E. T. Cook and Alexander Wedderburn. 39 vols. London: George Allen, 1903-1912.


Last modified 6 February 2011