'My musings on art could be described as a benign diatribe; one inspired by a genuine if watchful passion.'

In this sweeping collection of essays, Edmund Capon describes his lifelong fascination with art and the artists who, over centuries, have enlightened us and challenged the way we see the world. He shares his passion for topics as diverse as the art of China and the Renaissance Old Masters, talks of personal encounters with artists such as Henry Moore and Sidney Nolan, and tells the stories behind some of his controversial acquisitions as the long-time director of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, including Cy Twombly's Three Studies from the Temeraire.

Driven by curiosity and his love of the unorthodox, Capon applies the same level of passion to his discussion of football as to the ideas of Confucius. He sharpens his wit on the contemporary art world, where conceptual art – much of it devoid of beauty (and sometimes a concept) – reigns supreme. For this, says Capon, Duchamp, and his infamous Fountain, are at least partly to blame.

Featuring more than fifty beautiful reproductions of paintings and drawings from collections around the world, this collection is a fascinating insight into the mind of the liveliest and most generous thinkers of our generation.