After years of neglect by dealers and the general public, who dismissed much Victorian and Edwardian art as trivial and sentimental, paintings of that era are now eagerly sought after. The revival of interest has resulted in dramatic price increases in the auction rooms and galleries. This book contains entries on more than 350 Victorian and Edwardian artists, focusing not only on the product of their artistic labours but also on their often unorthodox lifestyles. Some of the artists represented, such as David Wilkie, John Lavery and William Mulready, were successful and widely respected during their lifetimes, but many others pursued their careers for many years without recognition or financial gain and died in obscurity. The 250 colour plates - landscapes and seascapes, genre paintings, portraits and still life - aim to cover the rich diversity of 19th-century art.