lii INTRODUCTION

Ruskin’s, a French guide is worthy of notice-Guide de la Basilique St. Marc à Venise, par Antoine Pasini, Chanoine de la mÊme Basilique (Schio: 1888); and English readers may usefully consult The Bible of St. Mark: St. Mark’s Church, The Altar and Throne of Venice, by Alexander Robertson, D. D. (1898). But the most important work on St. Mark’s is the sumptuous and monumental series of volumes issued by Signor F. Ongania, of Venice (1881-1888), and these were inspired directly by Ruskin and by the enthusiasm for their church which he had kindled among patriotic Venetians. In Ongania’s volumes and portfolios every portion of the church, inside and out, is illustrated either by permanent photographs of by chromo-lithographs. The scale of the work may be judged from its price-£97. The volume containing the text has been translated into English-The Basilica of S. Mark in Venice illustrated from the points of view of art and history by Venetian writers under the direction of professor Camillo Boito, translated by William Scott (Ongania, 1888). Signor Ongania, in a preface written upon the completion of his undertaking, describes its magnitude and his discouragements; but, he adds, “there served to inspire him with courage the voice and the wise counsels of the celebrated English writer, John Ruskin,” and accordingly

“TO

PROFESSOR JOHN RUSKIN, M.A., LL. D.,

whose cordial encouragement and able suggestions have contributed not a little to the successful conclusion of an arduous enterprise, this English translation is respectfully dedicated by his obliged and faithful servant,

F. ONGANIA.”

The reader who now visits St. Mark’s should remember that the building has been much “restored” since Ruskin wrote. Some account of the restorations is given in the volume of this edition containing his later Venetian studies which have many references to the subject. Here it may be said generally that the north and south fronts of the church have been refaced and to some extent rebuilt; that the south-west portico has been reconstructed (see below, p. 115); that some of the pavement inside has been re-laid (see p. 116 n.); and that on the cathedral generally many of the old Greek marbles have been replaced by inferior Carrara. A similar remark applies to the Ducal Palace, which has been very largely “restored” since Ruskin described it in this volume. Full particulars on this subject will be found in a terminal note (below, p. 464); while in notes below the text information is given withregard to capitals of which ruskin’s descriptions are affected by subsequent restorations, and a list of the subjects sculptured on the capitals is added in tabular

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