The Complete Works of John Ruskin.

"Taken in the mass, these volumes contain the most valuable contributions to art-literature the language can show they contain worlds of thought, imagination, and knowledge such as no other art-writer can educe It is impossible but that Art should be the better for them" (Allibone, 1895). "Clouds, mountains, landscapes, towers, churches, trees, flowers and herbs were drawn with wonderful precision, minuteness of detail and delicacy of hand, solely to recall some specific aspect of nature or art, of which he wished to retain a record. In his gift for recording the most subtle characters of architectural carvings and details, Ruskin has hardly been surpassed by the most distinguished painters" (NNDB).