This new take on the history of art, from da Vinci to Warhol, is reinterpreted and reinforced by the international phenomenon that is Banksy, indisputably the world’s most famous urban artist. That he is also one of the most perceptive art historians of our age might come as a surprise to many, but the many works he has created over the past 30 years constitute a bold commentary on the history of image-making. Armed with little more than stencils, spray paint and a cloak of anonymity in after-hours darkness, Banksy has shown a profound understanding of the story of art, recasting classic works such as Monet’s waterlily ponds or Vermeer’s girl as powerful comments on contemporary issues – climate change, consumerism, the struggle for peace – and revealing them to be surprisingly relevant today.