Each of ten essays is written by a scholar of the period who discusses pivotal works in terms of their aesthetic and social importance, how and for whom they were created, and what the subject matter and symbolism reveal about the period, artist, and patron. From ancient, medieval, and Renaissance art, through to impressionism, postmodernism, and beyond, the book concludes with a tantalizing speculation on where art is headed in the twenty-first century. 150 color illustrations.