LETTERS ON PAINTED GLASS 447

shall have, I think, to remember in introducing new designs. First, that I believe you will find your blues very much more prominent in glass than on paper, and reds vice versâ; so at least I was told by an Oxford authority the other day; so that the quantity of blue being in the present window very great, we must be careful not to knock out too much red. I thought that I had fully expressed my concurrence with you in putting the angel and dragon into C. I intended to do so at least; and I am sure your group of saints will answer well for the segment. I thought the Baptism had been knocked out long ago, and that Ward was designing another. I had much rather you would, however. All that you say respecting my borrowings from M. Angelo is perfectly just. I borrowed not from taste but from weakness, because I found I could not design quaint or characteristic figures without an original. I found that mine looked absurd without being expressive. Indeed, in the whole design I had no view to its actual execution, but merely to the giving Ward an illustration of the kind of colour and character we wanted. I fully feel that you have too much on your hands, but how can I help you? I am just going to Paris. I have only a week to spare-put a day for Versailles, one for La Madeleine, Notre Dame, etc., and four for the Louvre. How am I to do anything for windows?

I shall be home on the 24th, D.V., but I am afraid I shall still have enough to do. I think the Jonah a very pretty bit of colour, well mingled, and so far useful in varying the dead blue ground of the other designs. In altering it will it not be as well to keep the gourd and whale pretty much as they are for this reason? To be sure, as a baptismal emblem, one doesn’t want the gourd. Put it as you think best; only before determining on a new design, it is, I think, well to try a little one in the place of the other, on the whole design, as sometimes a bit too much blue or yellow will unbalance the rest. If I should meet with anything in Notre Dame or Amiens useful, I will try to find time to note it.

All our kindest regards to your circle at Champion Hill. Are you going to dissolve this Autumn?¹ and where are you thinking of going to? I wish you would look at Chartres.

Ever most sincerely yours,

J. RUSKIN.

¹ [A reference to current politics, the Government of Sir Robert Peel being at that time supposed to be in a critical position (see Greville’s Memoirs, second part, vol. ii. p. 248).]

[Version 0.04: March 2008]