Traces, through text and color plates, the history of painting, from early cave paintings to those of the twentieth century. Discusses the history of the artist's tools and the use of technique, perspective, proportion, and composition.
Some of Leonardo da Vinci's thoughts on anatomy, motions and emotions, historical compositions, draperies, color, and landscapes are presented from his notebooks. Da Vinci's illustrations accompany text.
Examines the compositional features of various works of art, discussing how composition is not only a consideration for artists, but also a factor in how we view the art.
