Essential History of Art introduces a new, chronological way of examining the major art movements of the Western World over the last two thousand years. It is the only book to examine the roots of art in prehistory and provide important examples of work from 240 leading artists in terms of their school, period, technique, and vision.

Each artist is represented by a major work, which is accompanied by text explaining their impact on the development of Western art, as well as giving a brief history of their life and career.