Are the paintings by Henri Matisse outdated just because they were created decades ago? Few would answer yes to this. Is a study that analyzes Matisse's works and possesses undeniable qualities outdated simply because it was published nearly 65 years ago? Some might suspect so. There are assumptions that are incorrect. This is demonstrated in the present anthology by John Elderfield. He has re-examined Alfred H. Barr's opus: "Matisse: His Art and His Public" from 1951. Barr, the founding director of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, was as gifted as an art historian as he was as an educator. This dual talent is still impressively evident in his book on Matisse. The present publication introduces 16 classics of art history from the last hundred years, treated by renowned art historians, international experts in their field.