Six Centuries of Painting

** "Six Centuries of Painting" by Randall Davies is a journey through the history of European art, beginning with Cimabue in the 1200s. It explains how painting became a respected form of art, growing from simple beginnings to complex pictures of people and places. The role of the Church in this evolution is discussed, as are the turning points where art moved from strict religious images to more lifelike representations of emotion and the world. Interactions between artists are revealed as a critical component to how painting developed over a broad span of time. **