is included, even a minute collection of varïants. The object of the editors has been to put the readers of this edition in possession of a complete collection of of Ruskin's published Writings.
This edition is also complete as including all the illustrations inserted by Ruskin in his books, and all drawings by him which have hitherto been published. These are an essential portion of his Works. Visitors to the exhibition of his drawings and studies, held after his death, may well have wondered how he found time to write, just as readers familiar with the vast body of his writings, published and unpublished, might wonder how he found time to draw. So far as his books on art were concerned, Ruskin considered the writing and the drawing as part of the same work. He never cared to assert his own artistic gifts, though they were considerable; but he claimed for himself, and exhibited in his books, such skill as was enough to prove that he knew what he was talking about.[1] Difficulties connected with the reproduction of his drawings were one of the reasons which interfered with schemes for the uniform publication of his books. In this respect the resources of modern methods of reproduction have come to the aid of this edition. Where possible, the original plates are used. In cases where that is impossible owing to the size, or undesirable owing to the state, of the old plates, recourse has been had to photogravure and other processes. By these means it has been found possible to include in a uniform edition all the original illustrations, without sacrifice, it is believed, of the qualities of the author's work. In addition to the illustrations previously published, this edition gives a larger number of the author's
- ↑ See, e.g. "Modern Painters," vol. iii. (Preface), and "Hortus Inclusus" (Letter of May 2, 1874).
