Now available in an updated edition, this generously illustrated book is a tour of the most important Western paintings since the Renaissance. Spanning seven centuries, this selection of 50 iconic paintings offers readers a crash course in art history while presenting gorgeous color reproductions that are a pleasure to contemplate. Starting with Giotto’s Arena Chapel frescoes and continuing through Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring as well as works by Monet, van Gogh, Cassatt, Cézanne, Dalí, Kahlo, Hopper, Pollock, Rothko, and O’Keeffe, nearly every important painter is represented in this book.

Now available in an updated edition, this attractive, useful, and entertaining collection of great artists and great art is a course in art history for readers of all ages. This bestselling reference guide profiles 50 major artists alongside their representative works. The entries are presented in an eye-catching format that features superb illustrations, brief biographies, and critical analyses. A glossary of important terms is also included in the book. Arranged chronologically, the selection of artists includes every major artistic movement and development since the Gothic period, giving readers a clear understanding of the evolution of the visual arts. Perfect for casual reading or easy reference, this accessible overview is a fun and practical art history lesson that everyone can enjoy.

Presents fifty of the most important works from the early nineteenth to the turn of twentieth centuries in colour.

Presents fifty paintings by major artists from the Renaissance to the twentieth century and includes a brief critical analysis of the work and a timeline for the artist.

Now available in a new edition, this array of masterpieces by the luminaries of the Impressionist movement is the next best thing to viewing them in person. No artistic education is complete without a healthy dose of Impressionism. Here fifty of the most important works from the early nineteenth through the early twentieth centuries are gorgeously reproduced, including the best of Monet, Degas, van Gogh, Renoir, Cézanne, Cassatt, Manet, Seurat, and Pisarro. Each piece is given a brief overview establishing its place in the Impressionist pantheon as well as in its artist's oeuvre. An introductory text explains the Impressionistic style, tracing the movement's development, while an appendix offers biographies of the artists. The result is a veritable tour on Impressionism, offering an enjoyable and practical art history lesson that everyone can enjoy.

Profiles the careers of fifty American artists, presented chronologically from colonial limners from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, to Kara Walker, born in 1969, and includes time lines and reproductions of their work.

Now available in a new edition, this chronologically arranged volume covers a century and a half of masterpieces which beautifully capture the development of art in the modern age.Now available in a new edition, this chronologically arranged volume covers a century and a half of masterpieces which beautifully capture the development of art in the modern age. Starting with James Abbott McNeill Whistler and ending with Matthew Barney, nearly every prominent figure in Modern art is represented in vibrant double-page spreads that show how these artists redefined norms and challenged tradition. Fascinating biographical and anecdotal information about each artist is provided alongside large reproductions of their most celebrated works, stunning details, and images of the artists themselves. From the Impressionists to the Surrealists, Cubists to Pop artists—readers will find a wealth of information as well as hours of enjoyment learning about one of the most popular and prolific periods in art history.