Great Paintings of the Western World features 300 of the most splendid works of Western art of all time.

Beginning with the earliest paleolithic cave paintings and the majestic frescoes of ancient Egypt, this unique survey travels to classical Greece, its vases richly detailed with epic tales of the gods; Rome, with its elegant mosaics; the early Christian period, when brilliant illustrated manuscripts previewed the glories of the afterlife; and to the Middle Ages, when Romanesque and Gothic paintings kindled the religious fervor of an ardent populace. Here are the best-loved paintings by the Renaissance immortals: Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, and the complex, often extravagant tours-de-force of the Baroque and Rococo masters — Caravaggio, Fragonard, and Vermeer. The 19th century, the age of transformation, witnessed artists from Constable and Courbet to the inimitable Impressionists and Post-Impressionists. This treasure tome concludes with modern and contemporary selections, including works by Matisse, Picasso, Dali, and Hopper, as well as Hockney, Motherwell, Stella, and more.

Accompanying this magnificent art is a concise, penetrating text that presents each painting in its historical, social, and artistic perspective. From Giotto to Gauguin, from Whistler to Warhol, Great Paintings of the Western World is a private guided tour of some of the most remarkable creations on Earth.