IV. ST. MARK’S 133

§ 64. I shall, in a future portion of this work, endeavour to discover what probabilities there are of our being able to use this kind of art in modern churches;¹ but at present it remains for us to follow out the connection of the subjects represented in St. Mark’s, so as to fulfil our immediate object, and form an adequate conception of the feelings of its builders, and of its uses to those for whom it was built.

Now there is one circumstance to which I must, in the outset, direct the reader’s special attention, as forming a notable distinction between ancient and modern days. Our eyes are now familiar and wearied with writing; and if an inscription is put upon a building, unless it be large and clear, it is ten to one whether we ever trouble ourselves to decipher it. But the old architect was sure of readers. He knew that every one would be glad to decipher all that he wrote; that they would rejoice in possessing the vaulted leaves of his stone manuscript; and that the more he gave them, the more grateful would the people be. We must take some pains, therefore, when we enter St. Mark’s, to read all that is inscribed, or we shall not penetrate into the feeling either of the builder or of his times.²

§ 65. A large atrium or portico is attached to two sides of the church, a space which was especially reserved for

¹ [See Stones of Venice, vol. iii. ch. iv. § 36.]

² [As Ruskin’s accounts of the Mosaics of St. Mark’s are to be found in various places, a conspectus of references to them is here given:-

Mosaics of the exterior:-Ancient one (of St. Mark’s), St. Mark’s Rest, § 97; Stones of Venice, vol. ii., above, p. 77. New ones, St. Mark’s Rest, § 104.

Atrium, here § 65; St. Mark’s Rest, § 106; and (Deluge) Modern Painters, vol. i. (Vol. III. p. 518).

Baptistery, St. Mark’s Rest, §§ 94-96, and ch. ix. Interior:-Over the main entrance, here § 66.

First Cupola (Pentecost), here § 67.

Vault between it and the next, here § 68. Central Cupola (Ascension), here §§ 68, 69; below, ch. viii. § 63; and in the next volume, ch. iv. §§ 10, 16-18; also St. Mark’s Rest, §§ 107, 126-131. Third Cupola, here § 70, and St. Mark’s Rest, §§ 118-123. South Transept, here § 8, and St. Mark’s Rest, §§ 109, 111. North Transept, here § 70 n., and St. Mark’s Rest, § 108. Eastern aisle, St. Mark’s Rest, §§ 111, 112.

Convenient plans of the mosaics are given at pp. 106, 204 of Dr. Robertson’s The Bible of St. Mark, in which book the whole series is described and illustrated.]

[Version 0.04: March 2008]