Books

London: Smith Elder and Co., 1848 to 1860, First Editions (Vols II, III, IV, V and Seven Lamps) and Third Edition (Vol I). Approximately 10 � inches tall. Six full leather bound volumes by J Ramage & Co. in an elegant morocco binding, with gilt titles and decoration to the spine compartments, all page edges gilt, some marks and scratches to the leather. Gilt decoration to the boards, inner gilt dentelles and marbled end papers. A lovely set. Internally sporadically foxed see photos. Five volumes. Volume I a Third Edition [1846]; Vol II to V first Editions [1846-60].The Seven Lamps of Architecture also a First Edition, in a slightly lighter brown morocco leather. Volumes III-V each with frontispiece plus a total of 85 engravings on steel and 8 on wood, and several wood-engraved illustrations in the text by the author, J. M. W. Turner, and others. The Seven Lamps of Architecture with 14 engraved illustrations. Vol I - 1846, THIRD EDITION, lxiii, [i], 422pp; Vol II - 1846, FIRST EDITION, xvi, 220pp; Vol III - 1856, FIRST EDITION, xix, [i], 348pp, Frontispiece plus plates 1-17 engravigs on steel (one in colour), tissue guard missing on plate 4; Vol IV - 1856, FIRST EDITION, xii, 411pp, Frontispiece plus plates 18-50 engravings on steel, tissue guard missing on plate 29, 30 and 45; Vol V - 1860, FIRST EDITION, xvi, 384pp, Frontispiece plus plates 51-84 plus unnumbered 85 engravings on steel, and 8 engravings on wood. The Seven Lamps of Architecture - 1860, FIRST EDITION, viii, [iv], 205pp, 14 plates. John Ruskin (8 February 1819 20 January 1900) was the leading English art critic of the Victorian era, as well as an art patron, draughtsman, watercolourist, philosopher, prominent social thinker and philanthropist. He wrote on subjects as varied as geology, architecture, myth, ornithology, literature, education, botany and political economy. His writing styles and literary forms were equally varied. He wrote essays and treatises, poetry and lectures, travel guides and manuals, letters and even a fairy tale. He also made detailed sketches and paintings of rocks, plants, birds, landscapes, and architectural structures and ornamentation. The elaborate style that characterised his earliest writing on art gave way in time to plainer language designed to communicate his ideas more effectively. In all of his writing, he emphasised the connections between nature, art and society. Approximately 10 � inches tall. Condition Report Externally Spine very good condition gilt titles and decoration, five raised gilt bands, gently rubbed, with minor marks and scratches, a little faded, Seven Lamps a slightly different shade. Joints very good condition gently rubbed and worn. Corners very good condition gently bumped and worn. Boards very good condition gilt decorated, gilt lined edges, marks and scratches see photos. Page edges very good condition all edges gilt. See above and photos. Internally Hinges very good condition secure. Paste downs very good condition inner gilt dentelles, binder's stamp in gilt to the marbled paper, marbled paper paste downs. End papers very good condition marbled. Title very good condition lightly tanned, some foxing. Pages very good condition lightly tanned, some foxing, illustrated to Vols III-V and Seven Lamps, minor foxing to the illustrations. Binding very good condition attractive full leather bindings. See photos. Publisher: see above. Publication Date: 1846-1860 Binding: Hardback.

This five-volume work argued that art should focus on depicting nature with truth and sincerity.