The author of this book, well known as an art and and social historian, tells the story of the artistic legacy left by the cities of the Southern Netherlands, now part of modern Belgium. He singles out four "cities of art" for main consideration-Bruges, Ghent, Brussels, and Antwerp-but deals with the whole artistic development of the southern Netherlands from the later 14th century to the early 18th century. Includes 98 illustrations, 46 of which are in color, notes on the principle artists, bibliography, and index.

(Key Words: art, history, Belgium, Netherlands, Bruges, Ghent, Brussels, Antwerp, architecture, Jean Malouel, Van Eyck, Jan Gossaert, Bernard Van Orley, Jerome Bosch, Joachim Patnir, Anton Van Dyck, Paul Bril).