David Shepherd often favoured a compositional format featuring three single-species subjects facing the viewer, with one central animal flanked by two others shown in profile. In Three Buffalo (1997), he depicts three African buffalo in a loose yet dynamic manner that captures the essence of the animals themselves. The surrounding areas of the canvas are left deliberately incomplete and exposed, drawing the viewer’s attention firmly to the subjects. This concentrated viewpoint, free from incidental detail, allows us to absorb the buffalo much as we would a human portrait. As we look more closely, we begin to notice individual characteristics, from the varied formations of their large, curved horns to the formidable shadows they cast in the sunlight. Shepherd’s combination of photorealism with a broad, impressionistic handling, alongside his impeccably accurate palette, immediately resonates with the viewer. Above all, however, it is his evident love of the animals that shines through, creating an instant sense of empathy between the work and its audience.