Since Antiquity, painters have sought to portray the glo- ries of nature, and many of their pictures have become some of the best-known and beloved masterpieces in the history of art. In this sweeping treasury of Western art, distinguished art historian Nils Buttner has chosen paint- ings that not only feature purely natural vistas but also show dramatic scenics with people and architecture. His wide-ranging selection of paintings in this genre consists mainly of well-known works, but he also introduces a number of seldom-reproduced pictures.