An exciting narrative and visual history of the artist's studio, examining the myth and reality of the creative space from early times to today. The artist's workplace has always been an imaginary as well as an actual location, an idealized utopia as well as the domain of dirty, back-breaking work. Written descriptions, paintings, prints and even photographs of the artist's atelier distort as much as they document. This pioneering cultural history charts the myth and reality of the creative space from Ancient Greece to the present day. Tracing a history that extends far beyond the bohemian, romantic and renaissance cults of the artist, each chapter focuses on key developments of the studio space as seen in a variety of familiar and unfamiliar images. Mythical and divine makers, and some amateurs, are included, and so too are craftspeople - workers in metal and wood, potters, illuminators, weavers, embroiderers and architects to name a few. Each carefully chosen example is placed within a cultural and political context, with the aim of correcting the historical imbalance that has long overlooked the many artisans who collaborated with artists. Leading authority James Hall also extends the discussion to the artist's museum and the artist's house, as well plein air painting and the development of portable studios.

Introduction 1. Luxury and Lameness: the Shield of Achilles 2. Wisdom¿s Workshop: Simon the Shoemaker 3. Struggles in the Scriptorium: Waging War on Dead Skin 4. Pure Gold: doing God¿s (or the Devil¿s) Work. 5. The Velvet Revolution: Cennini¿s Studietto 6. Piety and Pretentiousness: St Luke paints the Virgin. 7. `Always Keeping Paper in his Hand¿: A School for Art and Scandal 8. In and Out of the Comfort Zone: Leonardo versus Michelangelo 9. Creatures of the Night: `Only the dark serves to plant man¿ 10. Making a Spectacle: The Systematic Studio 11. Mirrors of Process: Velázquez to Reynolds 12. Women in the Studio: Love, Inspiration, Destitution, Crimes of Passion 13. Chaste Space: Cells and Garrets 14. Eliminating Easels: Workshop and Factory 15. Inside / Outside: Studios for Nomads