The Stones of Venice

By John Ruskin

Book Overview

Explore the architectural wonders of Venice with John Ruskin's seminal work, "The Stones of Venice, Volume 1 of 3." This detailed study delves into the history and significance of Venetian architecture, particularly its Gothic elements. Ruskin, a renowned art critic, meticulously examines the buildings and artistry that define this iconic Italian city.

Focusing on the foundational principles of architecture and their embodiment in Venice's structures, this volume offers a rich historical perspective. Discover the intricate details of Venetian buildings and gain a deeper understanding of their historical context. A must-read for anyone interested in Italian architecture, architectural history, or the artistic legacy of Venice.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1023357844
• ISBN13: 9781023357845
• Release Date: March 2025
• Publisher: Anson Street Press
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

excellent abridgement of a brilliant work

The Stones of Venice is beautifully written and a must-read for anyone interested in art, architecture, Venice, and Victorian literature. The massive original has been pared down here into a much more manageable volume without sacrificing its brilliant prose and insightful commentary. It'll easily fit in your carry-on luggage for your next trip to Italy.

A Needed Clarification

Hey, guys! A lot of the reviews of this book are complaining that the text is abridged. No! This book is the first of THREE VOLUMES which, together, make up the entire "Stones of Venice." To get the whole thing, you need to buy Volumes 10 and 11 as well, not just Volume 9. (N.B., "The Nature of Gothic," the best-known part, is in Volume 10.) It's all there. You just weren't looking in the right place. That having been said, it's a shame that one has to spend about $300 to get the complete text in a nice, hardbound format. But it's still a worthy investment.

an architecture page turner

This is an abridged version of the original 3 volumes, but a delightful book -- both for the opinions expressed and the wonderful pomposity with which they are presented. It's impossible not to learn about art and architecture from this book, but it also (perhaps not intentionally) makes Woody Allen's or Steve Martin's New Yorker pieces seem like downers. The man has no humility and there is no opinion other than his, yet somehow the clarity and vitality of his description allows you to continue reading. I was fortunate enough to pick this up in Venice, so I was able to search out his examples of the 5 worst buildings in Venice, and similar Ruskinisms.