"Victorian Painting is a comprehensive survey of one of the most fertile and varied eras in the history of painting. It embraces not just the United Kingdom but also the English-speaking countries linked to Britain by cultural ties of emigration and empire, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Africa.". "Long regarded as a backwater of sentiment and outmoded academic convention, Victorian painting is now wholeheartedly enjoyed in its own right. Wealth, optimism, education and self-confidence created a huge demand for art, and a formidable array of original and highly talented artists emerged to meet it. Producing works in a wide range of styles, subjects and media, many painters became celebrities, while the profession as a whole enjoyed unprecedented public esteem.". "Victorian Painting is valuable reference work, for in addition to many famous and well-loved images, it presents a wealth of fine work by lesser-known artists, and explores the byways as well as the highways of Victorian art."--BOOK JACKET.