A Bestiary of Fantastic, Monstrous and Allegorical Animals (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9788410650886)

A visual and cultural odyssey through the fantastical beasts of art, literature, and design--from ancient bestiaries to contemporary creativity.

This strikingly illustrated volume explores the evolving relationship between humans and animals through the lens of the bestiary: part taxonomy, part storytelling, and part symbolic expression. Spanning centuries and cultures, it reveals how mythical creatures and hybrid beasts--part human, part animal--have shaped religious iconography, moral allegories, and artistic imagination.

Far beyond scientific description, the bestiary has long served as a mirror for humanity's fears, desires, and subconscious dreams. From medieval manuscripts and Renaissance encyclopedias to Borges's literary monsters and contemporary visual art, this book invites readers into a world where the real and the imaginary coexist in symbolic harmony.

An essential reference for lovers of art history, mythology, natural philosophy, and fantastical design, this book celebrates the enduring power of the beast within.