I - GIOTTO AND HIS WORKS IN PADUA (1853–1860)

Summary

[Bibliographical Note.—This work owes its existence to the Arundel Society, which in the years 1853–1860 issued a series of thirty-eight large woodcuts, representing the majority of the frescoes in the Arena Chapel at Padua. These appeared gradually, and as they were completed, Ruskin's “explanatory notice” of them was also gradually written, and published by the Society. Ultimately the work consisted of two volumes, viz. (1) a large atlas (21 inches × 16½) containing, with a title-page and list of subjects, the thirty-eight woodcuts, and (2) a thin volume containing Ruskin's introduction and account of the frescoes, together with two plans of the chapel, and a woodcut of the Baptism of Christ from a thirteenth-century missal.

The Arundel Society also published a copper-plate engraving of one of the subjects (see p. 104 n.); and (in 1856) a chromo-lithograph from a drawing by Mrs. Higford Burr, entitled “A View of the Interior of the Arena Chapel, Padua, in 1306.”

The woodcuts of the frescoes were gradually issued, and were sold separately, the price to members being 2s. 6d., to strangers 3s. 6d. The price of the complete set was £4, 4s. to members, and £5, 5s. to nonmembers. The first fourteen are dated 1853; the next eight (15–23) 1854; after which Nos. 24–26 bore date 1855; Nos. 27–28, 1856; Nos. 29–30, 1857; Nos. 31–34, 1858; Nos. 35–36, 1859; and Nos. 37–38, 1860.