John Ruskin — Modern Painters

London, George Allen, 1903-1904. Leather. A complete six volume set of this early twentieth century edition of Ruskin's illustrated work on the painters emerging from the picturesque tradition. Complete in six volumes. All the fourth editions in small form, except the index, which is the third edition in small form. In full maroon morocco bindings, with a gilt to fore edges.  A set of works by John Ruskin, an English polymath – a writer, lecturer, art historian, art critic, draughtsman and philanthropist of the Victorian era. He wrote on subjects as varied as art, architecture, political economy, education, museology, geology, botany, ornithology, literature, history, and myth. Ruskin began comprising this set when he was 24 years old based on material collected in Switzerland in 1842. He argues that recent painters emerging from the tradition of the picturesque are superior in the art of landscape to the old masters.  The set includes: Volume I: Of Generaal Principles, and of Truth. Volume II: Of the Imagination and Theoretic Faculties.  Volume III: Of Many Things. With a frontispiece, and 17 plates, one of which is coloured. Volume IV: Of Mountain Beauty. With a frontispiece, and 34 plates.  Volume V: Of Leaf Beauty- Of Cloud Beauty, Of Ideas of Relation. With a frontispiece, and 35 plates.  Volume VI: General Index, Biblioraphy, and Notes. All volumes collated, complete.  In full morocco bindings. Externally, smart. Fading to spines, with bumping to the heads and tails. Rubbing to joints and spines, with occasional cracking to head. Small sticker to front paste downs. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean, with light spotting. Very Good . Ill.: Not Stated. Very Good .