Masterpieces from the sixth to the eighteenth centuries have been selected by a
specialist in the history of western art to provide, in a single volume, a
magnificent panorama of priceless paintings and drawings. The wealth of
illustrations, including 131 in full color and gold, present the varied aspects
of life in fascinating detail. This handsome collection provides a faithful
record of the life of Europe's people through twelve centuries and reflects
society's successive preoccupation with religious, philosophical and secular
matters. Religious paintings are balanced by a variety of portraits and
landscapes and studies of animals, flowers and still lifes. Byzantine mosaics
decorated early basilicas. Later secular figures dressed in the fashion of the
day were inserted as pious donors into painted scenes depicting incidents in the
life of the Holy Family, various saints or biblical characters. The nameless
horrors of the other world were depicted by some artists with savage realism.