Here, in a single, concise volume, is all that the art lover and the student will ever want to know about what is undoubtedly the most popular and significant event in the history of painting. Many entries cover not only the lives and careers of the main participants - painters (eg Monet), critics (eg Zola), patrons, dealers and collectors, as well as writers and musicians - but also techniques, prices and localities, while a wealth of information on the cultural, social and political background helps to set Impressionism in context. In recent years, major exhibitions and publications worldwide have stimulated a fresh reassessment of the movement and brought into question many widely held assumptions. Bernard Denvir's immensely useful book incorporates this new thinking and brings the story of the reception of Impressionism right up to date. It also includes a chronology of events and a gazetteer of the major collections.