I do not propose to attempt any elaborately sententious summing-up of the life and character of Ruskin. There is no reason why a biographer should assume the functions of a judge. Besides, the character of a man with any strongly-marked personality discloses itself in his life and works. I have told the story of Ruskin's life fully, and have striven to tell it faithfully. If the telling has not served to reveal the essential character of the man, the work has been done so ill that I could not hope to redeem the failure by any summary statements of my own. But some side-lights may be thrown by the portraits which Ruskin drew of himself, and by the impression which his manner and his conversation made upon friends and acquaintances. And this final collection of personalia may also give incidental opportunity for adding a few details to the picture and emphasising one or two points already made.

Of Ruskin's personal appearance, many varying accounts have been given. He is often spoken of as short in stature, but this is not correct.