An artist's materials - from the broad brushstrokes of a Van Gogh oil painting, the sparkling gold leaf of a Byzantine mosaic, to the fragile translucence of a porcelain vase - are not just the results of their work. They are the physical embodiment of the artist's creative vision and a reflection of the historical context in which they were used. ''Artists' Techniques and Materials'' is an extensive and intriguing discussion of the materials and processes used in eight artistic media - painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, mosaics, ceramics, glass, and metalwork. Chapters look at each of the topics, with a discussion of the range of materials and techniques that have developed through the centuries. With its 400 full-colour illustrations, this volume is provides new insight into the creation of many of the world's greatest works of art.