Written by some of today's leading art historians and curators, this new collection provides an invaluable road map of the field by comparing and reexamining canonical works of art history. From mile M le's magisterial study of thirteenth-century French art, first published in 1898, to Hans Belting 's provocative Likeness and Presence: A History of the Image before the Era of Art, the book provides a concise and insightful overview of the history of art, told through its most enduring literature. Each of the essays looks at the impact of a single major book of art history, mapping the intellectual development of the writer under review, setting out the premises and argument of the book, considering its position within the broader field of art history, and analyzing its significance in the context of both its initial reception and its afterlife. An introduction by John-Paul Stonard explores how art history has been forged by outstanding contributions to scholarship, and by the dialogues and ruptures between them.

A survey of the life and work of Alfred Sisley, one of the leading exponents of the Impressionist movement. The text examines how Sisley's painting life was devoted to the landscape. The author examines the tonal balance of such celebrated paintings as the snow-scenes of the Paris suburbs, views of the flooded Seine at Port-Marly and the colourful regattas on the Thames. The author recognizes that full recognition for the artist and his work only began after his relatively early death and argues that even now, his work is unjustifiably neglected. In studying Sisley's artistic development, the artist's English nationality, early career, struggle to earn a living, and secluded later years are examined.

Alfred Sisley is now recognized as one of the great landscape painters of the 19th century, and a leading figure in the Impressionist movement. He divided his time between France and England and the illustrations in this volume include the snow scenes of the Paris suburbs, his views of the flooded Seine at Port-Marly, and his paintings of the regattas on the Thames, which have been described as embodying the perfect moment of Impressionism. This series acts as an introduction to key artists and movements in art history. Each title contains 48 full-page colour plates, accompanied by extensive notes, and numerous comparative illustrations in colour or black and white, a concise introduction, select bibliography and detailed source information for the images. Monographs on individual artists also feature a brief chronology.