Distributed in North America by The David Brown Book Co.--which consistently handles books of a high level of scholarship and execution--this sumptuous, oversized volume (8.5x12"), offers 15 essays by senior art historians on artistic themes and individual paintings, manuscripts and sculpture, accompanied by 179 b&w and 32 color plates of superlative quality. In tribute to Faries, the essays focus on the process of invention, whether by an individual artist or by workshop, tracing in detail the choices and techniques employed to produce the work of art, often discovered using investigative tools like infrared reflectography, pioneered by Faries. The result is a thought-provoking volume that enriches our understanding of how esteemed artists such as Leonardo, Rogier van der Weyden, and Jan van Eyck created their works. Distributed in North America by The David Brown Book Co. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)