In the shadows cast by many of the world's greatest artists, one often finds the figure of The Muse: spouse or lover, protector or demon, patron or artist themselves--but always a main source of inspiration. Georgia O'Keeffe with Alfred Stieglitz; Gala with Paul Eluard and then with Salvador Dali; Nico with Andy Warhol; Frida Kahlo with Diego Rivera; Jean Marais with Jean Cocteau; Gena Rowlands with John Cassavetes: every art, from painting to writing to filmmaking to music, has a rich history of these fateful partnerships. What does the artist see in his muse? Why is artistic inspiration so often incarnated by the female form?

This illuminating, surprising, and absorbing book, richly illustrated with archival photography, sketches, handwritten letters, paintings, and highly personal ephemera, examines some 24 couples whose pairings have left an indelible mark on 20th-century art. In each case, the authors find, their passion and intimacy proved to be the germ of creation.