---

A beautifully illustrated compendium of real and mythical beasts with images from the collection of the Bibliothèque nationale de France.

---

This sumptuous book presents a selection of over one hundred stunning artworks, depicting animals real and mythical, from the prints and photography collections of the Bibliothèque nationale de France.

The work opens with a preface from celebrated cultural historian Michel Pastoureau, who considers the symbolic importance of animals to our dreams and imagination. Each image is accompanied by a commentary from one of the BnF´s expert editorial team of curators and archivists, which provides information on the natural and symbolic history of the creature depicted. Featured artworks include such masterpieces as Dürer´s rhinoceros, Manet´s cats, a carp by Hiroshige and Matisse´s swan.

This is a truly beautiful and authoritative collection of some of the most recognisable and accomplished works of animal-themed art, from the medieval period to the present day.

---

Ass - Bear - "Beast of Gévaudan" - Beaver - Bee - Bird - "Bird-Woman" - Bull - Butterfly - Camel - Carp - Cat - Chimera - Cow - Crocodile - Deer - Dinosaur - Dog - Dolphin - Dromedary - Duck - Elephant - Fish - Fox - Frog - Giant Squid - Giraffe - Goat - Goose - Grasshopper - Hippopotamus - Horse - Jaguar - Lion - Mole - Monkey - Mouse - Ostrich - Owl - Ox - Panther - Parrot - Peacock - Pelican - Pig - Porcupine - Rabbit - Ram - Rhinoceros - Salamander - Shrimp - Snake - Snowy Owl - Sperm Whale - Spider - Spiny Lobster - Stag - Swan - Tiger - Turtle Dove - Unicorn - Water Spaniel - Wild Boar - Wolf - Zebra

---

The edition of Animal: A Beastly Compendium published by Bloomsbury in their beautiful range of "Art History" invites to touch, look, turn every page and to dream yourself into the pictures and immerse yourself in the stories they tell. The Protagonist Magazine

---