"Techniques of the Great Masters of Art" by Waldemar Januszczak (1985)

Artists and art lovers alike will be fascinated by the depth of detail in the photographs as well as the text in this indispensable guide to the background and technique of over 100 master paintings. With specially commissioned photographs, explanatory diagrams, and actual-size details -- all compiled with the aid of a panel of picture conservators and art historians in painting technique -- this volume, originally published in 1985 and reprinted in 2003, serves as a practical guide, making complex techniques accessible to even the most casual art enthusiast.