147. SAVED ! (Sir E. Landseer, R.A.)

I wish this picture had not been put so high, for the bolder Landseer is in handling, the more interesting his work becomes, under close observance: nor does his peculiar system of clay-colouring gain at all in effect by distance. I never saw a child fall into water, nor a dog bring one out; but under such circumstances are not its clothes usually wet? and do not wet clothes cling to the limbs?

[For a summary of Ruskin's references to Landseer, see Vol. IV. p. 334 n.]