150 THE STONES OF VENICE

in the Fondaco it is farthest from the centre. The first loss here is of eleven inches, the second of five, the third of five, and then there is a most subtle increase of two inches in the extreme arches, as if to contradict the principle of diminution, and stop the falling away of the building by firm resistance at its flanks.

I could not get the measures of the upper story accurately, the palace having been closed all the time I was in Venice; but it has seven central arches above the five below, and three at the flanks above the two below, the groups being separated by double shafts.

§ 8. Again in the Casa Farsetti,¹ the lower story has a centre of five arches, and wings of two. Referring, therefore, to the last figure, which will answer for this palace also, the measures of the intervals are:

Ft.In.

a80

b510

c54

d and e53

It is, however, possible that the interval c and the wing arches may have been intended to be similar; for one of the wing arches measures 5 ft. 4 in. We have thus a simpler proportion than any we have hitherto met with; only two losses taking place, the first of 2 ft. 2 in., the second of 6 inches.

system as those of the Fondaco de’ Turchi. The dentil bands, by their smallness, are probably ancient, and perhaps the stones of the original archivolts may have been kept in the restorations; but the facing of the wall above may be seen at a glance to be comparatively modern. There can be no doubt at least respecting the figure of Venice under the niche; and if the reader will compare the circle on the right with Plate 14 in the first volume [Vol. IX., facing p. 352], he will probably think me justified in ascribing the execution of this part of the building to the same date as that of the front of the Ducal Palace; that is to say, early in the fourteenth century.”

Some of the capitals are illustrated in Plate 8 (Figs. 4, 5, 7, see below, p. 159). There is a note of the bands of colour on the palace below, § 29; and see also, Appendix 11 (7), p. 454. Ruskin’s drawing of the palace, made in 1845, faces p. 300 in Vol. IV.]

¹ [Adjoining the Casa Loredan: see last note, and below, Appendix 11 (6), p. 454. A sheet of Ruskin’s notes of this house, with measurements and sketches, is given as Plate C (facing p. xxviii.) in Vol. IX. See also Fig. 3 in Plate 8, below, p. 159.]

[Version 0.04: March 2008]