File:Lectures on architecture and painting, delivered at Edinburgh in November 1853 (1892) (14800127983).jpg

Identifier: lecturesonarchit1892rusk (find matches)
Title: Lectures on architecture and painting, delivered at Edinburgh in November 1853
Year: 1892 (1890s)
Authors: Ruskin, John, 1819-1900 Norton, Charles Eliot, 1827-1908, author of introduction, etc
Subjects: Turner, J. M. W. (Joseph Mallord William), 1775-1851 Architecture Painting Pre-Raphaelitism
Publisher: New York : Charles E. Merrill & Co. London : George Allen
Contributing Library: Boston Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Public Library

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what you at present areaccustomed to devote to such purposes; butnothing more would be needed than the diver-sion of expenditures, at present scattered andunconsidered, into a single and effective channel.Nay, the mere interest of the money which weare accustomed to keep dormant by us in theform of plate and jewellery, would alone beenough to sustain a school of magnificentarchitecture. And although, in highly wroughtplate, and in finely designed jewellery, nobleart may occasionally exist, yet in general bothjewels and sendees of silver are matters ofostentation, much more than sources of intel-lectual pleasure. There are also many evilsconnected with them—they are a care to theirpossessors, a temptation to the dishonest,and a trouble and bitterness to the poor.*So that I cannot but think that part of thewealth which now lies buried in these doubt-ful luxuries, might most wisely and kindlybe thrown into a form which would giveperpetual pleasure, not to its possessor only, Plate XII.
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Fig. 19. II. ARCHITECTURE. 93 but to thousands besides, and neither temptthe unprincipled, nor inflame the envious, normortify the poor; while, supposing that yourown dignity was dear to you, this, you mayrely upon it, would be more impressed uponothers by the nobleness of your house-wallsthan by the glistening of your sideboards. 52. And even supposing that some ad-ditional expenditure were required for thispurpose, are we indeed so much poorer thanour ancestors, that we cannot now, in all thepower of Britain, afford to do what was doneby every small republic, by every independentcity, in the middle ages, throughout France,Italy, and Germany ? I am not aware of avestige of domestic architecture, belonging tothe great mediaeval periods, which, accordingto its material and character, is not richlydecorated. But look here (fig. 19), look towhat an extent decoration has been carriedin the domestic edifices of a city, I supposenot much superior in importance, commer-cially speaking, to Ma

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