Details
RUSKIN, John (1819-1900). Autograph letter signed ('J. Ruskin') to Alice Fletcher, Venice, 30 December 1876, one page, large 8vo, envelope (minor tear to lower left)
Ruskin writes to Alice Fletcher at the Hotel Vittoria in Naples, 'the Neapolitan streets are to me the most dreadful in Europe -- it is not merely a race, as here, of sheep without shepherd; but of neglected wild animals driven into plague and death, by devouring the shepherds'. He is pleased by her letter, 'its grace and niceness finishing a series of pretty providential helpful lessons and delights that began for me the day before Christmas day', adding 'you'll know, someday, why it "finished". I can't tell you just now'.
Ruskin had returned to Venice in 1876 for his first lengthy stay since 1853; his intention was to revise The Stones of Venice, but instead he worked on guidebooks (St Mark's Rest and A guide to the Principal Pictures in the Academy of Fine Arts at Venice) and contributed to protests against the proposed restoration to the facade of St Mark's.
Ruskin writes to Alice Fletcher at the Hotel Vittoria in Naples, 'the Neapolitan streets are to me the most dreadful in Europe -- it is not merely a race, as here, of sheep without shepherd; but of neglected wild animals driven into plague and death, by devouring the shepherds'. He is pleased by her letter, 'its grace and niceness finishing a series of pretty providential helpful lessons and delights that began for me the day before Christmas day', adding 'you'll know, someday, why it "finished". I can't tell you just now'.
Ruskin had returned to Venice in 1876 for his first lengthy stay since 1853; his intention was to revise The Stones of Venice, but instead he worked on guidebooks (St Mark's Rest and A guide to the Principal Pictures in the Academy of Fine Arts at Venice) and contributed to protests against the proposed restoration to the facade of St Mark's.
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