Ruskin on the Doge's PalaceRuskin wrote in
The Stones of Venice that 'The Ducal palace of Venice contains [...] three elements in exactly equal proportions -- the Roman, Lombard, and Arab. It is the central building of the world.' (
Works, 9, p. 38).
Ruskin on SculptureThe reason for the Museum's emphasis on sculpture is given in the 'General Statement Explaining the Nature and Purposes of St George's Guild' (1882):
'Sculpture is the foundation and school of painting; but painting, if first studied, prevents, or at least disturbs, the understanding of the qualities of Sculpture. Also, it is possible to convey a perfect idea of the highest quality of Sculpture by casts, and even, in the plurality of cases, to know more of it by a well-lighted cast than can be known in its real situation.