Because of the authors' belief that education ought to be a process of inquiry rather than submission to received wisdom, the implicit goal of Frames of Reference is to develop students’ critical understanding and appreciation of art by showing interesting intersections between the viewpoints of patrons, artists, viewers, and critics. Thematically organized and chronologically underpinned, Frames includes thought-provoking chapters topics such as: The Earth as Art, Representations of the Gods, The Art of Rulers, Pilgrimage, Patrons and the Role of the Artist, Art and Collecting, Art and Revolution in the Modern World, Utopia and Dystopia, Art, the Spirit World, and the Inner Mind, and Identity in Contemporary Art.