No group of artists or period of art history has inspired as much fascination and admiration as the Impressionist school. This book tells the story of the revolutionary Impressionist painters and the dramatic times that shaped their vision. It examines the artistic trends from the early part of the 19th century to the shocking debut of Manet's Luncheon on the Grass, and examines the most important individuals in the history of Impressionism, including Pissarro, Manet, Degas, Monet, Renoir and Sisley. The expert analysis is augmented by over 350 illustrations, including the immediately recognizable images as well as rare paintings seldom seen in print. * A beautiful guide to the greatest Impressionist painters and the world that inspired them * Explores all the most recognizable works, including Olympia, Bar at the Folies-Bergère, The Absinthe Drinker, Nymphéas, Luncheon of the Boating Party, and many more * Features authoritative analyses of the artists, their lives, their influences and their paintings About the Authors: Robert Katz is a graduate of Oriel College, Oxford, where he studied modern languages. He has contributed to a wide range of books, from 19th-century European artists in the Holy Land to contemporary art. Celestine Darswas trained in France as an art historian, and she specializes in the study of art in its social-historical context. She has worked in publishing and art research most of her professional life.