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II. MEMORIAL STUDIES OF ST. MARK’S 423
Witches’ Sabbath, if I have, indeed, any English friends, let them now help me, and my fellow-workers, to get such casts, and colourings, and measurings, as may be of use in time to come. I am not used to the begging tone, and will not say more than that what is given me will go in mere daily bread to the workers, and that next year, if I live, there shall be some exposition of what we have got done, with the best account I can render of its parts and pieces.1 Fragmentary enough they must be-poor fallen plumes of the winged lion’s wings,-yet I think I can plume a true shaft or two with them yet.
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[Subscriptions were collected by Mr. G. Allen, as above intimated, and also by Mr. F.W. Pullen, secretary to the Ruskin Society of Manchester, under the authority of the following letter, which was printed and distributed by him:-
“November 29, 1879.
“DEAR MR. PULLEN,-I am very glad to have your most satisfactory letter, and as gladly give you authority to receive subscriptions for drawings and sculptures of St. Mark’s.2 Mr. Bunney’s large painting of the whole west façade, ordered by me a year and a half ago, and in steady progress ever since, is to be completed this spring. It was a £500 commission for the Guild, but I don’t want to have to pay it with Guild capital. I have the power of getting casts also, in places where nobody else can, and have now energy enough to give directions, but can no more pay for them out of my own pocket.
“Ever gratefully yours, J. R.
“As a formal authority, this had better have my full signature -JOHN RUSKIN.”
In a further letter to Manchester on the subject, Ruskin wrote as follows:-
“It is wholly impossible for me at present to take any part in the defence-at last, though far too late-undertaken by the true artists and scholars of England-of the most precious Christian building in Europe; ... nor is there any occasion that I should, if only those who care for me will refer to what I have already written, and will accept from me the full ratification of all that
1 [This, however, was not done.]
2 [In the Notes on Prout and Hunt, Ruskin notes the amount of them up to November 11 (Vol. XIV. p. 429).]
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[Version 0.04: March 2008]
