A History of Paleontology Illustration

by Davidson, Jane P.

• ISBN13: 9780253351753
• ISBN10: 0253351758
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-07-01
• Publisher: Indiana Univ Pr

Summary

Writing from the perspective of an art historian, Jane P. Davidson traces the history of paleontology illustration from the 15th century to the present. She combines discussions of these images as works of representative art with assessments of the artists. The book covers depictions of fossils, restorations of plants and animals, and ecological restorations in painting, drawing, sculpture, and in display restorations such as dioramas. Although the main subject of the book is scientific illustration, it also delves into "popular" illustrations such as those found in children's textbooks, popular introductions to paleontology and geology, museum and other public displays, and film. Both a history of science and a history of representation, this is a fascinating exploration of the interactions between art and science.

Author Biography

Jane P. Davidson is Professor of Art History at the University of Nevada, Reno, and author of The Bone Sharp: The Life of Edward Drinker Cope. She lives in Reno, Nevada.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. XI
Fossils in Art and Book Illustration in Early Modern Europe	p. 1
The Late Seventeenth Century and the Eighteenth Century	p. 25
The Nineteenth Century	p. 45
The Paleontologist Poses with Fossils	p. 97
Early Photography in Paleontology, 1840-1931	p. 109
The Twentieth Century	p. 153
Notes	p. 185
Bibliography	p. 203
Index	p. 215
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.