This book is first published to accompany the major exhibition at Compton Verney, 'The Artist's Studio', staged at this great Adam-designed country house in Warwickshire. This rarely studied subject is covered in expert essays based upon new research from the late sixteenth century to the present day, focusing upon artists from Rembrandt and Courbet, via Rossetti and Cezanne to Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon. A mass of spectacular color images illustrate the story, including major works of art and important photographs showing the likes of Andy Warhol, Frank Auerbach and Lucian Freud at work. A special feature is the inclusion of illustrations of the original works of art by several contemporary artists that were specially commissioned the explore the theme of the exhibition.