This book offers a highly comprehesive overview to the art that flourished in Italy between the end of the thirteenth century and the beginning of the nineteenth, a period during which great master followed great master; producing masterpiece upon masterpiece. The result is a succinct and powerful vision of Italian art. Divided by century, each chapter explores the true artistic greats of that era in accessible, manageable sections. The discussion explores their background, their work and their impact on the world of art. Accompanied by a stunning selection of images from the Scala archive, extended captions provide further insight into their greatest masterpieces.