This is a comprehensive visual reference to one of the best-loved periods of art history, with over 450 images. This is an in-depth look into the life and works of nine impressionist masters, including Pissarro, Manet, Degas, Monet, Renoir, Sisley, Bazille, Morisot and Cassatt. It features an informed and engaging narrative about the history and legacy of impressionism, written by leading authorities in the field. It is illustrated throughout with stunning reproductions of both classic paintings from the period and also of pieces of art that have rarely been seen before in print. This is a perfect volume for art lovers and enthusiasts everywhere, whether you are familiar with the period or reading about it for the first time. It includes an introduction by Christopher Lloyd, Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures. No group of artists or period of art history has inspired as much fascination as the Impressionist school, which flourished from 1874 to 1886. This comprehensive illustrated book tells the story of these revolutionary painters and the dramatic times that shaped their vision. The first section, A History of Impressionism, examines the artistic trends which led away from the classical schools of painting and the French landscape tradition in the early part of the nineteenth century. What follows is The Life and Works, which considers the most important individuals in the history of Impressionism, including masters such as Manet, Degas, Monet, Renoir and Sisley. The third and final section, The Legacy of Impressionism, illustrates the startling impact the Impressionists made on a younger generation such as Gauguin, Seurat and Van Gogh. This all combines to become an authoritative and artistic discourse on the fascinating subject of Impressionism.