Val d'Arno Ten Lectures on the Tuscan Art Directly Antecedent to the Florentine Year of Victories; Given Before the University of Oxford in Michaelmas Term, 1873

"Val d'Arno" by John Ruskin is a series of lectures analyzing the art of Tuscany and features an exploration of artists like Niccola and Giovanni Pisano, setting the stage for understanding how their art reflected and influenced society during a time of shifting political power. Ruskin highlights the transformation of political power six centuries earlier, moving from feudal control to more freedom, impacting Tuscan art. The book examines the connection between the Church, Imperial rule, and artistic structures, emphasizing how art mirrors governance and shapes community identity. Ruskin's work builds an understanding of Tuscan art's place in history.