This volume examines the methods of 77 of the Western world's greatest painters, and over 100 of their finest works. This book focuses on individual paintings and describes the techniques associated in the creation of it. It shows the development of painting techniques from the frescoes of Giotto to the acrylic paintings of David Hockney, revealing how the changes in painting technique and the evolution of artists' material went hand in hand. It examines topics such as the palettes, the strokes and the preparation of the canvas, allowing the reader to utilize similar practices in a step by step technical instruction.