The Animal Drawings of Albrecht Durer and Leonardo da Vinci

I was asked to look at the drawings of animals of two masters and so I have chosen Durer and Da Vinci as I have already some previous research on these two artists I didn't focus on their animal drawings so I thought I would look into their work on animals.
Albrecht Durer

The Hare water colour on paper 1502
http://www.bridgemaneducation.com/ImageView.aspx?result=0&balid=311216
The Hare is a most precise drawing of an animal which is not surprising given Durers interest in proportion and anatomy.  The hare's coat is so real and the painstaking patience to paint and draw this animal is amazing.

Three studies of a Bull Finch water colour with gouache on paper.
http://www.bridgemaneducation.com/ImageView.aspx?result=0&balid=311216
 I chose the birds because of thedifficulties of drawing these creatures and getting the posture right.  They may have been caged so that it would make it easier to draw and of course keep them in one place.

Leonardo Da Vinci
Leonardo was said to have loved animals and according to this website he wrote 'The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they look upon the murder of men' http://petlvr.com/blog/2006/12/13/leonardo-da-vinci-leonardos-animals-part-1-of-2/

Rider on Rearing Horse http://www.bridgemaneducation.com/ImageView.aspx?result=0&balid=311216

This picture has such movement and it is all about the horse and not the rider.  The angry temperment of the horse is evident and the back legs have been skeletally exagerated, which makes me think that Leonardo has a very good grasp of the horse's anatomy and he can play about with the animal with out it looking out of context.

Study of Cats

http://www.bridgemaneducation.com/ImageView.aspx?result=0&balid=311216

Having just spent two days drawing cats I was delighted to find this drawing of Leonardo cats.  I love the poses and appreciate how difficult it is draw a restless animal.  He has them prowling and playing and he also has one with an elongated neck which looks dragon like, so he was playing around with their form and movement.