John Ruskin letter to Ellen Heaton, 1855 December 23

Ruskin stresses that he is not ungrateful for Heaton's help and wishes her a merry Christmas. He explains that he cannot give Heaton the reasons for his commissioning of the Bolton photographs because it is related to the fourth volume of Modern Painters, which will not be published for at least two months. Ruskin encourages Heaton to contemplate "Dante's riddle about Rachel and Matilda" and gives her hints about how she might "make it out." Ruskin recommends H.F. Cary's translation of Dante over that of C.B. Cayley. Ruskin says that he is delighted that Heaton's friends like Rossetti's Francesca and that Rossetti and that Rossetti will be too. Ruskin gives further instructions regarding the photographing of Bolton Abbey. [Date provided by Surtees: 23 December 1855]