About the Book This monumental new book is the first to celebrate the greatest and most iconic paintings of one of the largest, most important, and most beloved museums in the world. This impressive volumes broad sweep of material, all from a single museum, makes it at once a universal history of painting and the ideal introduction to the iconic masterworks of this world-renowned institution. Lavish color illustrations and details of 500 masterpieces, created over 5,000 years in cultures across the globe, are presented chronologically from the dawn of civilization to the present. These works represent a grand tour of painting from ancient Egypt and classical antiquity and prized Byzantine and medieval altarpieces, to paintings from Asia, India, Africa, and the Americas and the greatest European and North American masters. This unprecedented book includes an introduction and illuminating texts about each artwork written by Kathryn Calley Galitz, whose experience as both a curator and educator at the Met makes her uniquely qualified. European and American artists include Duccio, El Greco, Raphael, Titian, Botticelli, Bronzino, Caravaggio, Turner, Velazquez, Goya, Rubens, Rembrandt, Brueghel, Vermeer, David, Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cezanne, Degas, Sargent, Homer, Matisse, Picasso, Pollock, and Warhol. For those wishing to experience the Mets unparalleled collection or to study masterpieces of painting from throughout history, this important volume is sure to become a classic cherished by art lovers around the world--Publishers web site. Book Synopsis In line with best-selling The Louvre: All the Paintings , and Rizzolis successful The Hermitage Collections and The Barnes Foundation: Masterworks , this title offers an exquisite tour, unique in its lavish illustration, scholarship, extent, and graceful packaging. As the first large survey published in 30 years, and the first large general survey of the Mets paintings collection it is the first to celebrate the greatest and most iconic paintings of one of the largest, most important, and most beloved museums in the world. This impressive books broad sweep of material, all from a single museum, makes it at once a universal history of painting and the ideal introduction to the iconic masterworks of this world-renowned institution. Lavish color illustrations and details of 500 masterpieces, created over 5,000 years in cultures across the globe, are presented chronologically from the dawn of civilization to the present. These works represent a grand tour of painting from ancient Egypt and classical antiquity and prized Byzantine and medieval altarpieces, to paintings from Asia, India, Africa, and the Americas and the greatest European and North American masters. This unprecedented book includes an introduction and illuminating texts about each artwork written by Kathryn Calley Galitz, whose experience as both a curator and educator at the Met makes her uniquely qualified. European and American artists include Duccio, El Greco, Raphael, Titian, Botticelli, Bronzino, Caravaggio, Turner, Velzquez, Goya, Rubens, Rembrandt, Brueghel, Vermeer, David, Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Czanne, Degas, Sargent, Homer, Matisse, Picasso, Pollock, and Warhol. For those wishing to experience the Mets unparalleled collection or to study masterpieces of painting from throughout history, this important volume is sure to become a classic cherished by art lovers around the world. Iconic works in the Met include: Sargents Madame X, Velazquez Juan de Pareja, Brueghel The Harvesters, Van Gogh Cypresses; Rembrandt Aristotle and Bust of Homer; Pollock Autumn Rhythm; Emanuel Leutz George Washington Crossing the Delaware; El Greco View of Toledo; Caravaggio Musicians; Vermeer Young Woman with Water Pitcher; Monet Water Lilies; Picasso Seated Harlequin. Review Quotes Succeeds magnificently in evoking a global art history ...presented in a way that only a physical book could accommodate: eye-filling reproductions in a stylish package of more than five hundred pages, nicely bound...will delight the casual page flipper but it will also entrance art-book aficionados... consistently evokes illuminating connections and gives readers room to discover them -- Bookforum Noting that the Met is known for its very scholarly works and exhibition and collection catalogues, Campbell said that this exquisite book ought to appeal to a broad audienc e. -- Shelf-awareness.com It is an essential volume for those wishing to experience The Mets extraordinary collection or to study masterpieces of painting from throughout history and is sure to become a classic cherished by art lovers around the world. -- ArtDaily.org In The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Masterpiece Paintings from Skira Rizzoli, thumb your way through the galleries of New Yorks famed museum . This coming-soon volume displays 500 masterworks from the dawn of civilization to modern times. -- Private Clubs Magazine This volumes broad sweep of material, all from a The Metropolitan Museum of Art, makes it at once a universal history of painting and the ideal introduction to the iconic masterworks of this world-renowned institution . Color illustrations and details of 500 masterpieces, created over 5,000 years in cultures across the globe, are presented chronologically from the dawn of civilization to the present. -- Hamptons Art Hub Head exploding: With 544 pages and 1100 color images of the Mets art and sculpture collection, this book is intense. Masterpieces, indeed. -- TheStyleSalononiste.com The hardcover book is said to be the first to celebrate the greatest and most iconic paintings in the museum -- Art & Antiques Galitzs text succeed in balancing sound, up-to-date scholarship with an accessible tone that anyone can appreciate... Publicatoins and online series like these are exactly what the Met is ideally suited to create, and we look forward to seeing still more in the years ahead. -- Fine Art Connoisseur The perfect gift for any lover of art. -- Art Of The Times About the Author A scholar, author, and lecturer specializing in European art, Kathryn Calley Galitz works at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where she has been both an educator and a curator of major international exhibitions. Thomas P. Campbell is the director and CEO of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.