A unique visual resource with more than 2,000 illustrations, many in color. Incisive, authoritative coverage of every significant development oin art from Palaeolithic cave paintings to Superealism. Features on individual paintings and sculptures of major importance in the story of art. There is a memorable Islamic work on the Ascension of Mohammed in brilliant colors. Considerable collections of Far Eastern porcelains are depicted. Italian Gothic sculpture is depicted fairly comprehensively. French realists and early 20th century artists are depicted in full color. There is an extensive section on artistic credits and acknowledgments. The cover has a full color portrait of a woman by Tissot.