Welcome to the book of the 1001 paintings you must see before you die - these are the paintings you should never have missed and the ones you want to see again and again. The author's unrivalled knowledge and first-hand experience of looking at works of art enables him to select those that are truly the most memorable. Included are the popular paintings that the public flock to see; the key works that are most breathtaking for their extraordinary power and beauty; those that were turning points in the history of art and changed the face of art forever; those that have become legendary because of the stories and anecdotes that lie behind them and their acquisition; those that cause famous scandals; those that contain fascinating details that most people miss; and those that you never knew about.Beautifully designed and presented, the book can be used in a variety of ways: cross-referenced by location of paintings in each country, it is an essential reference book to take with you when you travel abroad; cross referenced by artist's nationality, it enables you to make your own critical assessment of the artistic achievement of each nation. This is a collector's must for the bookshelf.