Engaging images of animals painted by master artists give this collection of excellent reproductions from London's National Gallery its universal appeal. Among the renowned painters are Delacroix, Stubbs, van Dyck, Gricault, Uccello, and Gainsborough. Close-up details provide readers with an unusually intimate look at the masterpieces. Passages of prose and poetry from acclaimed writers of the past few centuries add to the beauty of the book and provide insights into the history of the paintings and their times.