Does Van Eyck's Arnolfini Marriage portray a secret sadness? What political purpose did Rubens' fat, rosy models serve? And did Seurat's pointillist experiment really work? This invaluable handbook allows its readers to check facts, browse among the full-color pictures and explore how great artists like Breughel, Constable and Picasso first captured our admiration, and why they remain influential today. A must-have collection for general readers, art students and practitioners alike.