1. Ruskin wrote a scathing review of Whistler's Nocturne in Black and Gold: Falling Rocket, in which he criticized the painting's lack of detail and apparent lack of effort on the part of the artist. Ruskin described the painting as "flinging a pot of paint in the public's face."
2. Whistler defended his work by claiming that he was not trying to depict a specific subject, but rather the mood and atmosphere of a fireworks display. He also brought two other paintings to court, Nocturne in Blue and Silver: Chelsea and Nocturne in Blue and Gold: Old Battersea Bridge, to demonstrate that his style was consistent across multiple works.
3. The trial ended in Whistler's favor, with the jury ruling that Ruskin's criticisms had not damaged Whistler's reputation or his ability to sell his paintings.
4. The lawsuit was important in the history of art because it raised questions about the nature of art and the role of the artist. Whistler's defense of his work as an expression of mood and atmosphere, rather than a realistic depiction of a specific subject, challenged traditional notions of art and paved the way for new artistic movements such as Impressionism. The trial also highlighted the importance of critical reviews in shaping public perception of art, and the potential for artists to use the legal system to protect their reputations and livelihoods.