In this first volume of a brilliant new history of Australian art, John McDonald, the highly regarded art critic of the Sydney Morning Herald, takes us from the times of pre-history, settlement and exploration, to the end of the colonial era. In the first comprehensive overview of the field since the 1960s, McDonald reassesses the reputations of many leading artists, and links their achievements with the broader patterns of social history and ideas. Along with in-depth discussions of major works, the narrative teems with characters and anecdotes from the era of the First Fleet to that of the Australian Impressionists. The story of Australian art is told in a more vivid and engaging style than ever before, in a lavishly illustrated book destined to take its place as the definitive work on the subject.