I have always loved that painting! Her gaze is so direct, but so gentle.
There's a rat called Chiaroscuro in the book The Tale of Despereaux. I saw the movie of that and was horrified that they'd destroyed one of my favouritest books EVER. Despereaux isn't fearless and dashing! He's a wimp! He's terrified, he faints at loud noises! That's what makes him so heroic, because this terrified little mouse (he's really little, even for a mouse) is willing to brave darkness and death for love! I always like stories like that. When the protagonist does not conquer their fear, but faces it anyway, defies it, and realises that what they are fighting for is more important than fear.