"STONES OF VENICE" (1849-1851) A book about Venice had been planned in 1845, during Ruskin's first long working visit.

He had made so many notes and sketches both of architecture and painting that the material seemed ready to hand; another visit would fill up the gaps in his information; and two or three months' hard writing would work the subject off, and set him free to continue "Modern Painters." So before leaving home in 1849, he had made up his mind that the next work would be "The Stones of Venice," which, on the appearance of "The Seven Lamps," was announced by the publishers as in preparation.
He left home again early in October; by the end of November he was settled with his wife at Hotel Danieli, Venice, for the winter.

He expected to find without much trouble all the information he wanted as to the dates, styles and history of Venetian buildings; but after consulting and comparing all the native writers, it appeared that the questions he asked of them were just the questions they were unprepared to answer, and that he must go into the whole matter afresh.

So he laid himself out that winter for a thorough examination of St.Mark's and the Ducal Palace and the other remains--drawing, and measuring, and comparing their details.
His father had gone back to England in September out of health, and the letters from home did not report improvement.

His mother, too, was beginning to fear the loss of her sight; and he could not stay away from them any longer.