New-York tribune., 1900-07-14
RUSKIN IN VENICE.
From Good Words.


There are not many now living in Venice who
personally knew Mr.. Ruskin. Signor Pietro Sac
cardo, the able architect In charge of St Marks
is one, and l need not say that he is an ardent
admirer Of him. Like Mr. Ruskn he scrupu-
lously studies TO preserve old work; he is there
fore removing modern mosaics from the church
and putting up others copied from ancient car
toons, and using old tesserR For the same rea-
son he is desirous at this present moment that
the old capitals Of the columns Of the DucaI
Palace. which Mr. RuSkin so minutely describes
should be replaced and the new ones put there
within recent years removed.
Another man who knew Mr.. RuSkin very well
IS the intelligent sacristan of the Church of the
Madonna del Orto, for Mr.. Ruskin twice en-
gagged him to travel with him throughout Nene-
tia. This man remembers what Mr.. Ruskin said
about every picture in the Orto church. and has
many stories 10 tell of him. once when they
at COneglianO, Cima'S birthplace at the
for him Of Cimas pictures What amused
him was the care Mr. Rus5in bestowed upon it,
never allowing II out of his grasp. Again and
again he said, Let me carry II for you, sir,
but Mr.. Ruskin tucked il Che picture was not
a large one) firmer under his arm, and marched
on with II with all the gaYety or a schoolboy
bearing off prize. On these excursions he was
full Of buoyancy, and kept every one in the best
Of spirits.
Many Italian newspapers have published
obituary notices Of Mr. Rushin's death. The
"GazZetta a Veneza,' after referring to recent
losses in the art world, says: Now another
death hastens the decline of Pre-Raphaelitism.
and attenuates the already thin line Of the
chosen defenders OF the beautiful, depriV-
ing the school Of its first and most eloquent de-
fender, and deprvng the religion of the beau
tful Of its prophet. To-day the loss Of RuSkin
throws the world into mourning. Probably no
in modern times welded influence SO
wide so powerful and penetrating as Mr..
Ruskin. No else ever succeeded in becom-
ing for his Co-natonalists the nfallible high
priest of the religion of the beautiful OF to fol
low his scholars everywhere throughout the
world, directing by his books all their steps, and
their feelings. and their emotions. And proba-
bly, this extraordinary influence could only be
exercised by Englishman and Ruskin by his
genius was supTemely fitted to exercise it.
Venice in particular ought to be grateful to him.
for he was her feTvid wOrshipper, and he com
municated his passion to many others. thus
spreading the praise and kindling the love of
the beautiful throughout the world"
At a Town Council meeting held recently,
Councillor Bordiga said There died a few
days ago, a man whose life Overiowed with such
a wide activity OF spirit, with such a full en-
ployment OF all his varied talents. that few
have been able TO equal him-JOhn Ruskn. He
raised the criticism OF art to the height Of a
religion, Illuminating it with such stern vigor.
and with such gentle simplicity Of thought and
OF form. that England has the right to reckon
him one Of the most glorious representatives
OF modern literature. / desire, also because Of
the friendship that unites us TO Ruskin's native
land that the name Of this honored man shall
not be forgotten by the Council Of this city,
which he loved IN its very stones, and In the
treasures Of It's great temple; and which he
with an intensity Of desire and affection made
moro dear TO US Italians. and TO strangers,