Extraordinary reference book of over 80 famous painters, their lives, their loves, and their iconic paintings.

This art book includes insightful biographies of artists accompanied with remarkable reproductions of their famous artworks. Begin with the early Renaissance and follow art movements through the centuries to some of the most well-known artists alive today.

A gorgeous exploration of the defining people of the art world including pioneers such as Giotto and Jan van Eyck, the greats like Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael, and the visionaries like Frida Kahlo and Hokusai.
The large-format art book is overflowing with information and pictures of your favourite classics. The full-page prints are especially spectacular, allowing you to get the full effect of the work that inspired, defined, and encapsulated art movements.
Over 500 years of the craft is discussed, with the chapters organised by century starting with "Before 1500" and ending with "1945 - Present". Each chapter features the relevant painters of those years with its own directory. Read about the historical context of art movements in sections which include timelines and fact panels giving incredible insight into the art world, the past lives of artists and their visions and techniques.

Discover the unconventional stories of the artists' lives, including their influences, developments, friendships, loves, and rivalries. Read about the portraits that Holbein did for Henry VIII to play matchmaker, Caravaggio's astonishing reaction to a badly cooked artichoke, and the many romantic affairs of Picasso. Sometimes scandalous and often tumultuous, the lives of artists such as Raphael, Hogarth, van Gogh, O'Keeffe, Magritte, Warhol, and Kiefer are as interesting and captivating as their work.

The Artists Behind the Paint Brushes

A beautiful coffee table book that would make a lovely gift for those interested in art history, artist biographies or to browse the attractive reproductions of the famous artworks. Includes a foreword by Ross King who is the author of the bestselling Brunelleschi's Dome and Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling, as well as the novels Ex-Libris and Domino.

- Over 80 biographies of the standout artists over the centuries since the early Renaissance.
- Beautiful reproductions of artworks that allow you to get up close to their brush strokes.
- Insight into historical art themes and movements that influenced the periods.

About the Author:

Andrew Graham Dixon is one of the leading art critics and presenters of arts television programmes in the English-speaking world. He has presented six landmark series on art for the BBC, including the acclaimed A History of British Art, Renaissance, and Art of Eternity, as well as numerous individual documentaries on art and artists. For more than 20 years, he has published a weekly column on art, first in the Independent and, more recently, in the Sunday Telegraph. He has written a number of books on subjects ranging from medieval painting and sculpture, to contemporary art.

Discover more than 2,500 of the world's most influential paintings and sculptures in this beautifully- illustrated guide to the history of art.

Introducing Art: The Definitive Visual Guide - an invaluable reference book that spans 30,000 years of global art history, from cave paintings to contemporary art, and showcases the works of over 700 artists in striking detail to truly bring the artwork to life. Each artistic movement, from the Italian Renaissance to Impressionism to Graffiti Art, is explained in clear detail with descriptions of their origins and influences, characteristic styles and techniques, and typical subjects. A visual timeline of key works gives an overview of the scope of each major movement, while graphics, overlays, and detailed close-ups, show readers how to "read" composition and subject matter, and explain the specifics of the techniques and methods the artist used to create their masterpieces.

The 6 core chapters are structured chronologically, starting with prehistoric art and ancient civilisations, right the way up until modern-day artwork, so there's something for everyone to explore, learn and love. From Romanticism in the 19th Century, to Realism in the 20th Century, whether it's Pop Art or Expressionism, Minimalism and so much more - the beautiful full-colour illustrations and striking imagery, make this art book the perfect gift for the art and history lover in your life, as well as an ideal coffee table book.

Doubling up as a riveting reference book for anyone with an interest in art history who wants to gain a broader knowledge of the subject, as well as the perfect classroom companion in schools, libraries and more, Art: The Definitive Visual Guide is a must-have for your bookshelf.

Explore the pages of this awe-inspiring art history book to discover:

- Over 2500 of the world's most influential paintings and sculptures
- Stunning artwork from more than 700 artists
- 'Closer Look' sections offer detailed analysis of key paintings

About the Authors:

Andrew Graham Dixon (spokesperson and consultant) is one of the leading art critics and presenters of arts television programmes in the English-speaking world. He has presented numerous landmark series on art for the BBC, including the acclaimed A History of British Art, Renaissance, and Art of Eternity, as well as numerous individual documentaries on art and artists. For more than 20 years, he has published a weekly column on art, first in the Independent and, more recently, in the Sunday Telegraph. He has written a number of books on subjects ranging from medieval painting and sculpture, to contemporary art.
Ian Chilvers (consultant) is a writer and editor whose books include The Oxford Dictionary of Art, The Baroque and Neoclassical Age, and A Dictionary of Twentieth-Century Art. He was the specialist consultant for the 17th- and 18th-century chapters of this book.

An original and breathtakingly beautiful perspective on how art developed through the ages, this book reveals how new materials and techniques inspired artists to create their greatest works.

The Story of Painting will completely transform your understanding and enjoyment of art. Covering a comprehensive array of topics, from the first pigments and frescos to linear perspective in Renaissance paintings, the influence of photography, Impressionism, and the birth of modern art, it follows each step in the evolution of painting over the last 25,000 years, from the first cave paintings to the abstract works of the last 100 years. Packed with lavish colour reproductions of paintings and photographs of artists at work and the materials they used, it delves into the key paintings from each period to analyse the techniques and secrets of the great masters in detail.

Immerse yourself in the pages of this stunning book and find yourself dazzled by new colours; marvel at the magic of perspective; wonder at glowing depictions of fabric and flesh; understand cubism; and embrace abstraction. You will look at paintings in a whole new light.

About the Author:

Andrew Graham Dixon is one of the leading art critics and presenters of arts television programmes in the English-speaking world. He has presented numerous landmark series on art for the BBC, including the acclaimed A History of British Art, Renaissance, and Art of Eternity, as well as numerous individual documentaries on art and artists. For more than 20 years, he has published a weekly column on art, first in the Independent and, more recently, in the Sunday Telegraph. He has written a number of books on subjects ranging from medieval painting and sculpture to contemporary art.

Discover more than 2,500 of the world's most influential paintings and sculptures in this beautifully- illustrated guide to the history of art.

Introducing Art: The Definitive Visual Guide - an invaluable reference book that spans 30,000 years of global art history, from cave paintings to contemporary art, and showcases the works of over 700 artists in striking detail to truly bring the artwork to life. Each artistic movement, from the Italian Renaissance to Impressionism to Graffiti Art, is explained in clear detail with descriptions of their origins and influences, characteristic styles and techniques, and typical subjects. A visual timeline of key works gives an overview of the scope of each major movement, while graphics, overlays, and detailed close-ups, show readers how to "read" composition and subject matter, and explain the specifics of the techniques and methods the artist used to create their masterpieces.

The 6 core chapters are structured chronologically, starting with prehistoric art and ancient civilisations, right the way up until modern-day artwork, so there's something for everyone to explore, learn and love. From Romanticism in the 19th Century, to Realism in the 20th Century, whether it's Pop Art or Expressionism, Minimalism and so much more - the beautiful full-colour illustrations and striking imagery, make this art book the perfect gift for the art and history lover in your life, as well as an ideal coffee table book.

Doubling up as a riveting reference book for anyone with an interest in art history who wants to gain a broader knowledge of the subject, as well as the perfect classroom companion in schools, libraries and more, Art: The Definitive Visual Guide is a must-have for your bookshelf.

Explore the pages of this awe-inspiring art history book to discover:

- Over 2500 of the world's most influential paintings and sculptures
- Stunning artwork from more than 700 artists
- 'Closer Look' sections offer detailed analysis of key paintings

About the Authors:

Andrew Graham Dixon (spokesperson and consultant) is one of the leading art critics and presenters of arts television programmes in the English-speaking world. He has presented numerous landmark series on art for the BBC, including the acclaimed A History of British Art, Renaissance, and Art of Eternity, as well as numerous individual documentaries on art and artists. For more than 20 years, he has published a weekly column on art, first in the Independent and, more recently, in the Sunday Telegraph. He has written a number of books on subjects ranging from medieval painting and sculpture, to contemporary art.
Ian Chilvers (consultant) is a writer and editor whose books include The Oxford Dictionary of Art, The Baroque and Neoclassical Age, and A Dictionary of Twentieth-Century Art. He was the specialist consultant for the 17th- and 18th-century chapters of this book.