MS VIII [drawing]—Buildings on Water with Boats

Sketch of Buildings on Water with Boats

Pen and ink, approx. ? × ? cm (image only), placed immediately beneath the drawing, Mountain Sketch.
The drawing is a slight sketch of buildings with steps leading directly to water, with boats moored near the steps. The location is unknown, but the calm water and heavy window awnings shading from the sun suggest Italy. The drawing was made over top of a previous drawing of mountain outlines, and also over top of marginal numbers 925, 930, and 935, intended for reception of ongoing verse composition, the last poem composed being “It was an eve of summer mild” [“Lago Maggiore”] ending on a line numbered 920 (65r). Between this poem and the two drawings, Ruskin drafted the prose essay, “Aix La Chapelle” (65r–66r).