No group of artists or period of art history has inspired as much fascination as the Impressionist school, which flourished 1874 to 1886. This comprehensive illustrated book tells the story of these revolutionary painters. The first section, A History of Impressionism, examines the artistic trends which led away from the classical schools of painting and the French landscape tradition in the early part of the 19th century. The section on Life and Works considers the most important individuals in the history of Impressionism, including such masters as Manet, Degas, Monet, Renoir and Sisley. The final section, The Legacy of Impressionism, illustrates their startling impact on a younger generation such as Gauguin, Seurat and Van Gogh. This is an authoritative and artistic discourse on the subject of Impressionism.