440 APPENDIX TO PART II

The water is given thus-with the ark so, on the top of it. The belt a is red, b is green, c is gold. So you see I am left to my own devices, and I have but little time; but there are three or four points which we must alter.

In the first place-the Paradise on the left is horribly insipid. I intend, if Mr. Storie¹ will allow me, to substitute the angel coming down from heaven, with the chain and key, to bind the dragon for a thousand years; the dragon will give me red to set against the purgatory, and I shall put some repentant leopards and converted cockatrices above, which will give me some more; so keep that open, please.

In the second place, I have been looking for lambs everywhere; but find none that I like. I don’t know how it is, but a lamb with a flag over its shoulder reminds me much more of Camberwell Fair than the Day of Judgment.

At Rouen I found in St. Vincent a Christ coming to judgment, which pleased me, robed in crimson, showing the wound in the side, after a design of Albert Dürer’s. There is some grandeur about it, and I see no objection to putting the seven lamps before it; so that we take away the emerald rainbow. The sword is on one side in the sky; a bunch of some flowers, which I have faithfully copied, on the other. I shall add a point or two of colour, and send it you. If we do not put a powerful piece of colour in this centre, the church on the left will overbalance us. But if you can get a rich design from Ward with the Lamb, do not hesitate to put it in if you like it better than the Albert Dürer. I leave the choice entirely to Mr. Storie and you; I mean, don’t do a single thing out of complaisance to me, as I only wish to lay as much material before you as I can, to enable you to choose; and this Albert Dürer may, from its grotesqueness, be offensive to you; if so, don’t write to me, but get another design put in hand. I cannot yet tell what to do with the angel on the right, but I shall think of something.

I hope also to send you a better “Baptism of the Sea,” or to substitute something for it of clearer form. All this I will do as soon as I can; but travelling leaves one little time. If Ward goes on with the smaller circles, triangular spaces, or with his own part, no time need be lost.

Finally, let me repeat again the great and important watchword-“Smash.” All the Chartres windows are one series of breaking and riveting. I looked at St. Patrice, Rouen, tell Ward, and admire it much for purity of colour, and originality and expression in design; but the tout ensemble is scattered, and altogether wanting in solemnity and repose. I will write again soon.

Yours ever very truly,

J. RUSKIN.

¹ [The Vicar of Camberwell at that date.]

[Version 0.04: March 2008]