Book excerpt: "Comprising almost one thousand drawings and more than four hundred prints, the Malcolm collection was considered a preeminently important addition to the British Museum's holdings of old master drawings when it was acquired in 1895. Formed by John Malcolm of Poltalloch (1805-93), it contained masterpieces by Sandro Botticelli, Andrea del Verrocchio, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Claude Lorrain and Watteau. Minor masters also found their place, provided that, in the words of Malcolm's own guidelines, they were 'exceptionally fine and well-preserved examples'." "One hundred of the finest drawings are reproduced here, reflecting the general character and strengths of this remarkable collection. In the introduction, Stephen Coppel outlines its history and the life of John Malcolm, a passionate collector and a connoisseur of the most discriminating kind." --Book Jacket.