In Ruskin 's time the capital of Saxony (now in Germany), Dresden was considered one of the world's most beautiful cities, renowned for its art, architecture, and also for its strong musical traditions. Dresden was devastated by bombing during World War II; many of its art treasures, however, were saved by timely removal from the city. Ruskin visited Dresden in 1859. He saw the Grünos Gewöble (Green Vault) at Königstein where he saw works by Corregio, Giorgione, Holbein, Raphael (Raffaelle), Rembrandt, Titian, and Veronese. Ruskin invokes Dresden to substantiate his argument of the incapacity of the average spectator to appreciate truth in nature and art.