What Makes Great Art: 80 Masterpieces Explained

Why do some artworks stand out head and shoulders above others? Exceptional art somehow satisfies at a deeper level than the rest.

What Makes A Great Painting showcases a selection of 80 outstanding paintings and sculptures from around the world and throughout time, assessing just what it is that makes them so great. Some owe their greatness to composition of colour, others offer profound insights into their human subjects, and some convey their message particularly effectively.