An authoritative, concise handbook on Western paintings. Divided thematicallyinto genre chapters (still lifes, nudes etc.), it is easy to dip into, easy to carry whenyou visit a gallery and refreshingly simple to navigate.

An authoritative, concise guide to the history, principles and theoriesbehind Western paintings. Easy to dip into, easy to carry whenyou visit a gallery and refreshingly simple to navigate, this bookprovides the background and context for the most popular paintings andpainters from 1400 to the present. It is divided thematicallyinto genre chapters (still lifes, nudes etc.) and the paintings arearranged chronologically in each chapter. The book is also filledwith cross references to help the reader make comparisons both as togenres and across centuries. Most art history books are either scholarly ordeal with a specific movement, subject or artist. Where this bookscores is in the breath of the subject and its easily accessible - yetauthoritative - manner.