This book traces a visual path through the many representations of the dog, created over many centuries that are displayed in the magnificent works of art conserved and displayed throughout the Vatican Museums.

Faithful companion and wonderful partner to man, the dog is the key to understanding how different cultures and religions have perceived their vision of art and the interaction with the animal world.
In this book the reader can discover how sculptors and painters have captured this alliance since the earliest times, through objects that come from Ancient Egypt and Etruscan ceramics, from Pagan Rome to the advent of Christianity, and then through Medieval painting to the tapestries of the Renaissance, and then through the wonders of the Sistine Chapel to Modern times.

Also included is a list of the illustrated works with information on materials, dates, locations and catalogue numbers.

The extraordinary artistic accord between man and dog is brilliantly portrayed in this journey through works of incomparable beauty.