"With 223 illustrations."

Introduction -- Zhang Zeduan (Attrib.): Along the River During the Qingming Festival 1085-1145 -- Jan Van Eyck: The Arnolfini Portrait 1434 -- Sandro Botticelli: The Birth of Venus 1485 -- Hieronymus Bosch: The Garden of Earthly Delights 1490-1500 -- Michelangelo: La Pietà 1499 -- Leonardo da Vinci: Mona Lisa 1503 -- Artemisia Gentileschi: Judith Beheading Holofernes 1620 -- Johannes Vermeer: Girl with a Pearl Earring c. 1665 -- Élisabeth Vigée le Brun: Marie Antionette in a Chemise Dress 1783 -- Francisco de Goya: Saturn Devouring His Son c. 1819-23 -- Katsushika Hokusai: Under the Wave Off Kanagawa 1830-32 -- J. M. W. Turner: Rail, Steam and Speed 1844 -- Auguste Rodin: The Kiss 1882 -- Vincent Van Gogh: The Starry Night 1889 -- Edvard Munch: The Scream 1893 -- Pablo Picasso: Les Desmoiselles D'Avignon 1907 -- Gustav Kilimt: The Kiss 1907-8 -- Claude Monet: Water Lilies 1914-26 -- Hilma af Klint: Group X, Altarpiece No. 1 1915 -- Suzanne Valadon: The Blue Room 1923 -- Georgia O'Keeffe: Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1 1932 -- Frida Kahlo: Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird 1940 -- Edward Hopper: Nighthawks 1942 -- Francis Bacon: Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion 1944 -- Salvador Dalí: The Temptation of Saint Anthony 1946 -- Jean-Michel Basquiat: Hollywood Africans 1983 -- Faith Ringgold: Woman on a Bridge #1 of 5: Tar Beach 1988 -- El Anatsui: Dusasa II 2007 -- Yayoi Kusama: The Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity 2009 -- Isaac Julien: Lessons of the Hour 2019

"Art appreciation made accessible, relevant and entertaining; writer, curator, and YouTube sensation James Payne demystifies great works of art. Based on the popular and enormously successful YouTube channel of the same name, Great Art Explained unveils the fascinating stories behind some of the world's most iconic paintings and sculptures, proving that there's more to art than just watching paint dry. Art can be thrilling, and resonate on a deep personal level. It is how you view the work, place it in context and understand its history that makes an artwork truly come alive. A fresh approach to a classic subject, James Payne's no-nonsense analysis sheds new light on 30 masterpieces from around the globe and reveals what makes them truly timeless works of art. Each chapter delves into not only the art itself but also the artist's life, as well as the work's place in their wider oeuvre; in other words, what makes it "great." From Hilma af Klint's occult altarpieces to Claude Monet's Water Lilies, Botticelli's The Birth of Venus to Georgia O'Keeffe's Jimson Weed, each artwork is explored with clarity and passion. Whether a seasoned art enthusiast or a curious newcomer, this book promises to deepen your appreciation and enrich your understanding of some of the world's greatest treasures."--