Ranging widely over the history of art, from ancient Egypt to Picasso and Chagall, the authors emphasize man's concern for people, things, and ideas in art. The reader thus becomes aware of the ability of an artist to reveal character, to dramatize moods, and also to express his own individuality as he approaches age old subjects and ideas. Furthermore, the artist himself becomes a focus of great significance in this book, as the authors have written informative biographical sketches of over thirty great painters, from Giotto to Paul Klee. The key movements in art history are also discussed with admirable clarity, whether we are dealing with Renaissance Italy, France in the nineteenth century, or modern-day America.