Oil on canvas. 5 1/2 x 9 in. Books and Ink Bottle is an intimate, small painting that depicts a bookshelf. The lovely beam of light shining on the right side of the painting exposes the texture of the beautiful, if not slightly worn, pages. The anonymity of the books contributes a mysterious quality to the painting that makes its appeal universal: whether they are the oeuvre of the Brontë sisters or Edgar Allen Poe, the viewer is invited to unleash their imagination. The painting and frame are both in excellent condition with rich colors and lively sheen. This painting is unique due to the unusually high contrast and dark tonality, which Peto often diffused in most of his other work.