R o b e r t · B a t e m a n

An unparalleled artist, Robert Bateman likes to paint the delicate beauty of nature. His canvases depict all forms of life, from dwarfish puffins to great eagles, from tiny chipmunks to furry goats, from sleek leopards to massive bears... All of his animals share colorful landscapes and impressive sky settings. This is the natural world at its greatest. Remarkably, his works are both exceptionally beautiful and pleasant to look at.

A l a n · L e e

Specializing in mythical artwork, Alan Lee is not a traditional painter. Rather, he is an illustrator, and a great one at that. Landscapes are his trademark, especially ones that inspire a legendary atmosphere. Many of his artworks are grayish, rocky environments filled with smoke. 'Pictorial fantasy' is an appropriate term to describe his works. Fascinated by the older times, he can vividly depict all kinds of mythology, even that of Tolkien. His works are, in a sense, beautiful... but not pleasant. Anything but pleasant! Given is pale settings, his pieces are somewhat darker than reality.

M a u r i t s · C o r n e l i s · E s c h e r

A remarkable artist who uses advanced mathematics and spatial geometry to create wondrous canvases and infinite patterns. Plays with perspective and dimensions to conjure forth magnificent works of art that have no end, or beginning for that matter. His drawings depict the concept of greater dimensions and curved space with crystal clarity. Symbolic characters in his canvases include coiled insects, mocking birds, musicians and, of course, geometric forms. There is one aspect of his art that troubles me, though : they are neither pleasant, nor beautiful... though they are interesting.