The painter, scholar and writer Lawrence Gowing (1918-1991) was an eminent figure in the British art establishment. In this three films he illuminates a central purpose in the work of Masaccio, Vermeer and Cézanne, who each mark a distinct stage in the story of European painting between the Renaissance and today. The artists’ work lies at the heart of the documentaries and Gowing’s lucid commentary reveals their wholly original achievements.