The Fourth Volume of Modern Painters was, as already explained, written and published much at the same time as the Third. It has, therefore, been dealt with generally in the preceding Introduction. Some particular remarks remain, however, to be made as usual under the heads of Text, Manuscripts, and Illustrations.

The Text of this volume will be found to differ considerably from that of any preceding edition, and for the first time stands as the author finally intended. The alterations now made come from three sources: (1) Ruskin's own copy for revision; (2) a copy formerly belonging to Ruskin, and now to Mr. R. H. Edmundson, of Byerswood, Windermere, in which the author had made some notes and corrections; (3) the published text of Coeli Enarrant and In Montibus Sanctis, and a proof which Ruskin had carefully revised for an intended further chapter in the latter work (see below, p. 185 n.).

The bibliographical particulars of these two series of reprints from Modern Painters have already been given (Vol. III. pp. lxii., lxiii.). The portions of the reprints which attach themselves to the present volume are (1) the Preface to Coeli Enarrant. This contains some general remarks by the author on the style and substance of volume iv., and is accordingly here reprinted in an appendix (pp. 486, 487). (2) The first chapter of Coeli Enarrant, being a reprint of ch. vi. of volume iv. Here the author made no revision.