1. First Marks 1
2. The Story Unfolds 9
3. The Illusion of Life 17
4. Copycats 25
5. Paths to the Afterlife 33
6. Art Embraces Religion 41
7. Storm Clouds Gather 48
8. The Art of Propaganda 56
9. Masons, Moai and Materials 63
10. The Renaissance Begins 70
11. Northern Lights 77
12. A Matter of Perspective 85
13. East Meets West 92
14. The Return of Rome 100
15. Fire and Brimstone 108
16. Here Come the Barbarians 115
17. The Reign in Spain 123
18. The Theatre of Life 131
19. New Ways of Seeing 139
20. The Lie of the Land 146
21. Still Life and Life Stilled 153
22. Rococo Escapism and London Life 161
23. The Royal Academy: Home and Away 169
24. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity? 177
25. Romanticism to Orientalism 185
26. Reality Bites 193
27. The Impressionists 201
28. Artists Take a Stand 209
29. The Post-Impressionists 217
30. Standing on the Shoulders of Giants 225
31. Ripping up the Rule Book 233
32. Art Becomes Political 241
33. Land of the Free? 249
34. The Aftermath of War 257
35. American Art Comes of Age 265
36. Sculpture Breaks the Mould 273
37. We Don't Need Another Hero 281
38. A Postmodern World 289
39. Go Large or Go Home 297
40. Art as Resistance 305
Illustration Credits 312
Index 318