A bit of Art History and Who's Who of Great Painters

Ten of the greatest painters who changed the world of art, by Brian Sewell from the web site http://www.dailymail.co.uk provides a short Art History of the Western World by the author. Those that appreciate old paintings and classic styles of painting usually compare all other paintings to these classical artists that came before. Of course many new styles, approaches and mindsets have come since. I doubt any great modern painters failed to study the great painters that came before nowadays, hence all modern skills are built on top of their achievements. Or are they?