How did Michelangelo paint nudes? What is Cubism? Where did abstraction come from? These questions and many more are answered in this hefty, beautifully illustrated tome spanning over 3,000 years of paintings, sculptures and prints, including some of the finest art ever created, with reproductions of each work accompanied by precise annotations and visual analyses. Discover ancient Egyptian frescoes, read the visual clues to Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper and find out what inspired Louise Bourgeois and Banksy. Through the work of over 450 artists from every period, major art movement and many cultures, it covers key elements such as composition, colour, technique and symbolism and sets art in historical context. Throw in a 32-page directory of biographies of all the artists featured in the book, and you have an outstanding history of art.