Ruskin 's reference is to a mountain above Chamonix. In volume four of Modern Painters Ruskin cites the Grandes Jorasses as an example of a geological phenomenon whereby certain of the Alpine mountains are set on the edge of the Alpine plateau, thereby producing 'the most majestic scenes in the Alps' ( Works, 6.207). It is again included in his discussion of glaciation in Deucalion (1875-83) ( Works, 26.135).