This beautifully illustrated and updated "National Gallery Companion Guide" introduces art lovers to one of the richest and most representative collections of Western European paintings in the world. Erika Langmuir offers enlightening commentary on more than 200 of the finest works--by painters including Piero della Francesca, Titian, Rembrandt, Rubens, Velazquez, Ingres, and Degas--from the National Gallery's collection, along with masterpieces by less familiar artists.With this book, readers can trace the history of European painting from the thirteenth to the twentieth centuries; develop an eye for style, technique, imagery, and genre; and learn to appreciate the talents of artists in a variety of artistic and cultural contexts. The book takes into account the latest scholarship from the National Gallery and includes discussions of the museum's newest high-profile acquisitions.