The study of art history, and painting in particular, has traditionally centered on individual artists and their schools. From Vasari to Bernson, scholars have sought to define the art of specific places and times in terms of known artists and their followers. Even when the identity of a painter is unknown, scholars have satisfied the desire to name those responsible for great works of art by calling them the "Master of' a particular painting or workshop. Perhaps in reaction to the emphasis on the attribution of works of art, art historians more recently have turned their attention to the social and political context in which works of art were produced. However, one can still argue that the individual artist remains the prime determinant in how a work will look and how it will differ from works by other artists of the same period and locale.
