PREFATORY NOTE.

THE

HE present volume, though issued with Mr. Ruskin's sanction, has been compiled without reference to him, and he is, therefore, in no way responsible for it.

The references used in the index will be found equally applicable to all the editions of the different volumes of the work. The old index hitherto contained in the fifth volume of "Modern Painters," is omitted from the "Complete Edition," but embodied in the present index, though not always under quite the same headings.

No pains have been spared to make the following pages correct, complete, and serviceable; worthy, in fact, of the book to which they refer. In a work of this character, however, it is almost impossible that some errors and omissions should not have escaped the compiler, who will, therefore, be glad to receive any corrections which may come under the notice of persons using this volume.

A bibliography of "Modern Painters," and a collation of the main differences between the various editions, are placed at the end of the volume, and will, it is believed, be valued by collectors and students of Mr. Ruskin's works.