The 800th anniversary of the Canticle of the Creatures by Saint Francis of Assisi—one of the earliest poetic texts in the vernacular—marks not only a literary milestone, but also the first expression of a renewed relationship with Nature, to whom the Saint speaks with a familiar “you." This very Canticle serves as the starting point for this volume, which invites us to follow the long path of visual arts, exploring how artists over the centuries have represented the profound bond between humans and the natural world around them. Through a compelling selection of works, the book reveals the many shades with which Creation has been observed and reinterpreted in the creative visions of some of the most celebrated artists in the history of art.