Famous for its architecture and as the birthplace of Galileo,
Pisa, on the River Arno in Tuscany, north central Italy, is the
capital of the province of of the same name. Throughout the
middle ages Pisa was an important city-state and commercial
centre, but its power waned after its conquest by Florence in
1509. Its most notable architecture includes the marble, Pisan
Romanesque complex comprising the Cathedral (1068-1118), the
Baptistery (1153-1278), the Campanile, the famous leaning tower
(1174-1350), and the Campo Santo (1278-83, with fourteenth and
fifteenth century additions). Also of note is the Church of
Santa Maria della Spina, Ruskin 's 'Pisan Chapel of the Thorn,'
also referred to by him as 'my pet La Spina' ( Works, 35.419).
The church was twice drawn by Ruskin, firstly in a picturesque
manner in 1840 and later with the aid of the daguerrotype in
1845. The first is reproduced as Plate 4 in Volume 14 of Cook
and Wedderburn and the second as Plate 7 in Volume 27. The
church was rebuilt at a higher le