The present volume brings together some of the most important paintings of the 16th century. They offer insights into long-gone worlds, into the sphere of the rich and powerful and into the daily lives of peasants and craftsmen. They uncover the stories and myths that preoccupied them, and their religious and material desires. The authors discuss what we are seeing and provide background information that makes the pictures more accessible. They see each painting not just as a work of art, but also as a document of its day.