Book excerpt: Master Paintings in North America reveals the astonishing variety and quality of North American collections, the results of over one hundred years of inspired collecting by individual collectors and public institutions. It may be no surprise that the Metropolitan Museum and the Frick Collection in New York and the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. have a large number of El Grecos, for example. But how many of us are aware that works by El Greco can also be found in Los Angeles and San Francisco, California; Sarasota, Florida; Glen Falls, New York; and in Ottawa and Montreal? The only guide of its kind,Master Paintings in North America provides a complete and fully captioned listing of every painting in U.S. and Canadian collections by fifty selected old master painters-from the early Renaissance to the mid-nineteenth century. This volume also contains a valuable geographical index which provides vital museum-going information: addresses, hours, and admission fees, as well as listing of other important painters represented in the museums. In addition to helping the reader locate these masterpieces,Master Painting in North America also provides the means for more fully enjoying these great treasures. The author, Mr. John Morse-a noted art historian and critic-provides brief biographical entries for each of the fifty painters, and longer essays analyzing the significance of their work. The book is lavishly illustrated with large full-page color plates as well as over one hundred black-and-white illustrations. This book is not only for the tourist, but also for the armchair traveler who can also enjoy the wonderful treasures in North America's museums. Master Paintings in North America is a beautiful addition to anyone's art-book library, and an indispensable companion for the art-living traveler, for the student and scholar.